At the beginning of December, the transport regulator had determined the operator’s decision, and given the deadline of December 13th to provide the “necessary clarifications” in order to lift this suspension.
In a response sent this Friday to Lusa, the IMT stated that “after analyzing the clarifications provided, during a prior hearing”, it decided “to cease the activity of the TVDE Pink Riders platform”.
Detran pointed out non-compliance with “article 7 of Law no. 45/2018 which determines that there can be no discrimination in access to TVDE services”.
This public institute, responsible for analyzing and registering TVDE platforms, operators and drivers, refers to the terms of article 7 of Law no. 45/2018, of August 10, on “non-discrimination”.
“Users, actual and potential, have equal access to services of TVDE, and they cannot be refused by the provider for reasons, notably ancestry, age, sex”, indicates the article of the law that governs the activity.
Lusa tried, unsuccessfully, to obtain a reaction from Monica Fanecofounder of the project.
The electronic platform for transporting passengers in unmarked vehicles (TVDE activity) had as its main difference compared to its competitors operating in Portugal, Uber and Bolt, the condition of only accepting female drivers and be for the exclusive use of women.
On December 11, Mónica Faneco had said that she refused “impositions” on the business model and that she had presented two objections to Detran.
In her argument, Mónica Faneco maintained that the platform “does not discriminate, only if it is positive discrimination”, and emphasizes that she is “defending women’s rights”.
The founder also highlighted that would go to other European marketsnamely Spain, and which was also in negotiations to begin operating in Italy.
Meanwhile, this month also launched the petition “Promotion of the Creation of Exclusive Companies for Women”, with the understanding that the creation of these companies — both as entrepreneurs, employers and collaborators — “constitutes a concrete response to foster gender equalityensuring inclusive, safe workspaces adapted to your specific needs”.
“Similar initiatives implemented in other countries have generated positive impacts, including the increased female participation in the labor marketeconomic empowerment and improvement of working conditions”, says the petition available on the website peticaopublica.com, which, at 8:30 pm this Friday, had around 1,200 signatures.
The petitioners ask that the Assembly of the Republic promote the debate and study of the legal, technical and economic feasibility of encouraging the creation of companies exclusively for women in Portugal, in addition to tax, financial and training incentives that encourage female entrepreneurship, with special attention to women in situations of economic or social vulnerability.
