A year ago it was reported that the migration of TVDE drivers to the Algarve, in the summer, was taking place on such a large scale that the cities of Lisbon and Porto were almost deprived of this service and customers had to submit to dynamic rates, that is , with prices rising as there is more demand and fewer cars. A year later, the reality is completely different. Not because drivers do not go south in search of a better settlement, but because the increase in the number of professionals in Individual Passenger Transport in Unmarked Vehicles means there is a stronger offer.
Although the demand for this type of transport tends to increase during the holidays, on the part of drivers “it is very difficult to see this this summer”, says Ângela Reis, president of the Associação Nacional Movimento TVDE. The director states that “there are so many motorists on the street, but also so many that this increase in demand is not noticeable”.
In 10 months (from September last year to the end of June this year), the number of professionals has increased by 50% to a total of 62,892, according to data from the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT).
“Migration is not constant, that is, there are drivers in the Greater Lisbon area, who, due to the excess of colleagues, even of other nationalities, migrate to the Algarve when there are events, but it is not constant. There is a minimum percentage that she has housing options – she has a second home or relatives in the region – and she works there all summer. But it is not what it used to be, “explains Ângela Reis.
This migration is also carried out by the two platforms operating in Portugal. Uber’s official source states that “to respond to the increase in tourist demand in the summer, many drivers are choosing to temporarily relocate to other regions, such as the Algarve”. Without giving numbers, the company says that “this flexibility is fundamental and especially important to accommodate seasonal fluctuations in tourism”.
Similarly, Bolt says migration is a natural thing for this time of year, “given the flood of tourists, both Portuguese and foreign, to the south of the country”. Such as Nuno Inácio, regional director of greeting driving from Bolt to Southern Europe, “drivers follow demand and that is why there is a movement towards the Algarve in the summer”. Through the end of June, Bolt recorded a 50% growth in TVDE demand compared to the same period last year. With so many drivers on the market – a fact also proven by Bolt, “with the growth of the sector, the number of drivers in activity also increases”, says Nuno Inácio – it was not necessary to increase base rates, a situation that deserves the disapproval of the TVDE National Movement Association.
“Even now, Bolt collected 5% of the commission. That is, it will also (like Uber) charge 25% of the commission. Do the math. For example, in a service of 3.50 euros – paid by the customer – start If the commission for the platform is withdrawn. What will remain after the withdrawal of the commission for the driver plus the diesel costs?” asks Ângela Reis. “Nothing. We are almost paying for users to drive the car,” he replies, adding that tourists in the Greater Lisbon region, when they see the final price of their trips, “press to tip the drivers, in cash because they think that they are paying is ridiculous.” According to the person in charge, the practice has been extended to Greater Porto. “My colleagues from the Porto delegation also said that this is happening”.
More foreign drivers
As of July 31, 2023, Brazilian nationality was the second most represented in TVDE driver licenses issued, according to IMT. Portuguese nationality is represented in approximately 67% of certificates issued and Brazilian nationality is associated with approximately 15%. Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis follow.
For Ângela Reis, it is not about the increase in the number of employees, not least because the TVDE is “a sector that cuts across all nationalities and genders”. What is questioned is the lack of supervision regarding the final exams, which all drivers must pass at the end of the compulsory course in order to take up their duties. “There is no supervision and there must be effective supervision. But if everything is done legally, because the law allows it, even the government cannot do anything,” he says.
“If the final exam was done by the school itself… If it were done by an exempt government agency, like the Code exam, some would definitely fail. And the quality of service would be maintained.” And he refers to the need to revise Law 42/2018 (the so-called Uber law), since “the reality of 2023 is not the reality of 2018, when there were not so many new drivers, who don’t even speak Portuguese”.
On the other hand, the platforms are legally shielded. Bolt says that “as a technology platform it limits itself to applying the legal requirements with the utmost precision, without regard to nationality” and that “in this sense, any driver submitted by a partner fleet, which has all documentation required by law to operate correctly will not be prevented from doing so through our platform”. However, Nuno Inácio emphasizes that “if there is an intention to revise the criteria and requirements required under the TVDE law, our availability is fully available to cooperate with the regulator”.
Uber is moving in the same direction by stating that it complies with all regulations in all countries where it operates and Portugal is no exception. “All active drivers on the Uber platform are licensed by the IMT to carry passengers in uncharacterized vehicles,” and “failure to comply with regulatory requirements will result in immediate account suspension.”
Mónica Costa is a journalist for Dinheiro Vivo
Source: DN
