Mayor of Rio says that buses will not be taken out of circulation this Friday (27), according to the category's announcement and that he will ask for support from the Federal Government
This Thursday (26) the mayor of Rio Marcelo Crivella, after a meeting with Cláudio Callak, president of the Union of Bus Companies of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro (Rio Ônibus), said that the buses will not go out of circulation this Friday (27) as announced by the category.
Crivella said he will ask the federal government for support to finance the salaries of drivers who are out of work.
"We have 5,500 buses in the city, and today we're operating with 2,000 because demand has dropped significantly. On these 2,000 buses, we also ask that people not stand. Only sit. Therefore, bus profitability has dropped significantly. These 3,500 buses that are not operating have drivers, and we need to pay their salaries. Since the city has no resources, we are asking the federal government to help us during this time of crisis due to the novel coronavirus pandemic," stated the mayor of Rio.
Crivella also requested that the federal government release funds from the Severance Indemnity Fund (FGTS) for workers. The withdrawal would be for those suffering most financially due to the novel coronavirus crisis. The proposed withdrawal applies to urban bus drivers, articulated bus drivers, and self-employed workers, such as taxi drivers. Street vendors and cultural producers, who make their living from street art, are also included.
Businessmen
Rio Ônibus reported that at the meeting this Thursday, Mayor Crivella committed to urgently seeking resources in Brasília so that the bus operations of the public transport system continue to function in the city.
The union, consortia, and bus companies are currently seeking their last resources to keep everything running until help arrives. With the coronavirus lockdown in place, transportation is experiencing low demand.
"The coronavirus pandemic has radically worsened the situation for companies and, as the NTU, the national association of businesspeople in the sector, has been warning, bus passenger transport, already weakened by the crisis of recent years, is on the verge of total collapse in the country by April 5th if no action is taken by the government," said Callak.
The businessman also added about the current situation and the risk of a shutdown: "We're taking it one day at a time. We're picking up the pieces of today to function tomorrow. We have to preserve the jobs of approximately 26,000 fathers who, in this time of war, cannot stop," said Callak.