As a result of the protests that took place on Monday night in Bogotá due to the fines that are being proposed for those who use transport platforms, the Minister of Transportation, Guillermo Reyes, came up against this controversy and said that there is still no nothing definite about it.
«It’s a draft, we’re building a consensus. We have been working since November on a necessary reform, for many years in Colombia, to the sanctioning regime of the transportation system ”, he assured.
(Also read: Mobility Apps: who works on them and how much the market moves)
In addition, he stated that tomorrow, Wednesday, a space for dialogue was opened with the representatives of the platforms to «build a consensus. We want to hear what position they have regarding the project, what proposals they have and we hope, as a result of that meeting, to present to the country what is the path that it follows».
The Government respects the right to social protest, but we do not accept strikes and blockades as a mechanism for dialogue
The Minister of Transportation also indicates that, by order of President Gustavo Petro, no bill was presented to the Congress of the Republic that did not have a prior consensus with the citizenry.
Likewise, it is open to the possibility that the regulation of transport platforms can be processed in a different bill. «The Government respects the right to social protest, but we do not accept stoppages and blockades as a mechanism for dialogue,» said Minister Guillermo Reyes.
He was also emphatic in ensuring that It is not true that they want to end the transport platforms in the country but, on the contrary, it is sought that they enter to formally provide the service.
(Also read: Would fines of $10 million come to citizens who use mobility ‘apps’?)
«Illegality and informality are combated in two ways: leading them to formalization, and if they do not agree to enter that process, they will have to be sanctioned,» he added.
The minister also stated that the fine that is being raised for users will be reviewed of the transport platforms, since «they cannot be penalized for taking a service that they understand that the State has been allowing for a long time».
The draft bill indicates that there would be sanctions with fine of 10.6 million pesosequivalent to 250 Tax Value Units (UVT) for contracting the transport service through platforms.
