Uganda: National Alliance of Informal Economy Workers celebrates 14th November

Members of NAIEWO of Uganda celebrate International Street Vendors Day!

Ghana StreetNet Alliance march for rights and social security on International Street Vendors Day

March through Accra on 14th November -International Street Vendors Day 
Promoting Social Dialogue, Creating Jobs, Calling for Social Dialogue

Chile SINTRALOC celebra el dia internacional en la Alameida Plaza Principal de Santiago de Chile

SINTRALOC, anfitrión del Congreso de StreetNet en 2013, celebró el día internacional de los vendedores y vendedoras ambulantes con una manifestación nutrida en la Plaza Principal del Capital, Santiago de Chile, y con música y festejos.  Se destacó la participación de la juventud en el evento.

Togo: une protection sociale pour tous, un élément de développement de l’économie informelle

Pour marquer le 14 novembre, le Syndicat des Vendeurs de Matériaux de Construction du Togo (SYVEMACOT) en collaboration avec la Faitière Nationale des Travailleurs du Secteur Informel (FAINATRASIT) a organisé une causerie suivie de débat au tour du thème : « une protection sociale pour tous, un élément de développement de l’économie informelle ». Le débat a regroupé près de 250 vendeurs, vendeuses, artisans et les corps de métier de l’économie informelle dont environs 197femmes.

250 vendeurs fêtent le 14 novembre!

Le programme da été présenté par le secrétaire général du SYVEMACOT, Monsieur Komi Mensanh KESSOUAGNI, suivi par les mots de bienvenue de la présidente de FAINATRASIT, Madame TOUBLOU Mawussi Yawa. Dans ses mots, la présidente a montré l’importance de la protection sociale à travers ses différentes prestations qui permettent de supporter une partie des frais médicaux en général, mais aussi d’assurer les vieux jours du travailleur avant passer la main au communicateur.

Monsieur Gilbert ADOMEY, le coordonnateur régional de l’institut national  d’assurance maladie (INAM) qui a animé la causerie-débat porté sur problématique de la protection sociale. L’orateur a expliqué ce qu’est la protection sociale, son utilité, ses prestations, les différentes modalités dans la  mise en œuvre de la protection sociale entre autres. Il a relevé que la protection sociale doit être une réalité dans le secteur informel dans la mesure où les acteurs de ce secteur sont plus exposés que les travailleurs du secteur formel. Il a poursuivi que l’assurance sociale réponde  mieux au secteur informel. En conséquence il a lancé un appel aux acteurs de ce secteur de se tourner vers les mutuelles de santé; les questions qui ont suivi cette présentation montrent à suffisance que le message passé est bien reçu. 

La représentante du Directeur Général chargé de la délégation à l’organisation du secteur informel (DOSI) a salué l’initiative, et a réitéré la disponibilité de son institution a accompagné les travailleurs du secteur informel à accéder à la protection sociale tout en renforçant les mutuelles de santé existante et accélérer la création d’autres. Il a  lancé un appel aux acteurs pour une adhésion massive au Projet d’Appui au Développement du Secteur Privé (PADSP) qui vise la formation de deux mille micros entrepreneurs.

       

Komi Mensanh KESSOUAGNI

Secrétaire Général du SYVEMACOT

Brazil: 14th November widely covered in trade union media

In Brazil, we sent the leaflets to the partners (UGT, CUT, CGGDH, PSI, FES, BWI and the Popular Committee of those Affected by the World Cup) and to our many contacts in the street vendors organisations of the host cities. We wrote a letter to all the newly  elected city mayors of the host cities - there are 11 Mayors who were elected at the end of October- and requested the street vendors  organisations to try and arrange a meeting with the new Mayors to hand them the letter personally.  The letter was an adaptation of the letter we sent earlier to the 84 Mayoral candidates and it contained the same set of demands which  we had already put to FIFA earlier this year.

Mayor of Porto Alegre receives StreetNet letter with our 3 demands 

We have received responses from the street vendors' organisations from Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte and Salvador, who told us the good news that the Mayors had agreed to meet them!  This is a real victory as they are large cities and the Mayors have substantive powers. We have already received news from ASFERAP in Porto Alegre and Salvador about their meeting.

The mayor from Salvador has also replied to our email saying he was aware of the International Street Vendors Day,  and that he would carefully study  the letter.

In Rio, we invited the street vendors leadership for a breakfast at the Centre for Working Women (CAMTRA)  and we had a nice and informal conversation. They suggested creating a  carnival section  of the street vendors in Rio!!  We distribute the t-shirts, the leaflet and we gave our women leaders flowers in recognition of their struggle for justice.  The team from CAMTRA joined us in the conversation. 

Information about the International Street Vendors Day was put up in a number of important websites:

In the CUT website
http://www.cut.org.br/acontece/22733/14-de-novembro-dia-internacional-do-vendedor-a-ambulante
In the BWI website
http://brazil.bwint.org/?p=1031
In the Manuas Popular Committee of those Affected by the World Cup (Comite Popular da Copa de Manaus)
http://fpcopa2014manaus.blogspot.com.br/2012/11/na-vespera-do-dia-internacional-dos.html
In the facebook of the MNCR- catadores
http://www.facebook.com/catadores
And in theTUCA /CSA website
http://economiainformal.csa-csi.org/2012/11/14/hoy-es-el-dia-internacional-de-vendedoras-y-vendedores-ambulantes/


Report from Maira Vanucchi, WCCA Coordinator in Brazil and Nora Wintour StreetNet Campaigns Coordinator

South Africa:UBAMBANO and StreetNet mark International Street Vendors Day

Umbumbano Traders Alliance, an affiliate of StreetNet, celebrated last Wednesday at the Durban City Hall. The hall was packed with hundreds people who attended this event. There were songs, dances and poetry from entertainers who belong to the informal sector.  

 

 “Harassments must be immediately suspended until an agreed process is formed between Ubumbano and the various municipalities in the province,” said Mzwandile Mavula, Ubumbano Secretary.

 

Representatives from the local government were present including business support and the South Africa Municipal Workers Union and the South African Communist Party.

Mavula also talked about how Social Protection Floors play an important role for informal workers and traders. Countries have to commit to a sustained focus on programmes for the poorer people, with plans and budgets allocated for serious implementation.  The social protection floor was spoken about in detail and is based on a package of basic securities which is proper healthcare, food security, child care and public infrastructure. 

 

'One of the resolutions of the meeting is for Ubumbano to have a service centre that focuses on those areas and where informal workers can visit if they need help. ” he said

 

LIberia: Central Bank Governor meets street vendors on occasion of International Street Vendors Day - a first time for StreetNet affiliates!

Comfort Doryon, Chair of NAPETUL, with the Governor the Central Bank of Liberia, Dr. Mill Jones and the Deputy Governor on the Occasion of International Street Vendors Day! 

Nothing for us without us!

14th November March of Street Vendors through Monrovia to celebrate International Street Vendors Day

 It's not every day that a Central Bank Governor and his Deputy have time to go out on the streets to meet an organisation of street vendors.  But in Liberia, it has happened!  Let's hope that more Central Bank Governors take inspiration from this achievement in Liberia where government and bankers are concerned to listen to the needs of street vendors.