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 being for the exclusive use of women.

It was the fact that it was a “segmented service” that led IMT to suspend the operator’s license, giving until Friday for clarification, as it considered that “article 7 of Law no. , which determines that there cannot be discrimination in access to TVDE services”.

"Users, actual and potential, have equal access to TVDE services, and they cannot be refused by the provider for reasons, namely ancestry, age, sex", states the article of the law that governs the activity.

Speaking to the Lusa agency, the founder of the project Mónica Faneco said that she was received on December 6th by the president of the IMT, João Jesus Caetano, in a meeting, and was left with the idea that the person responsible “didn't know at all how things work.”

“You have to know the difference between a TVDE platform and an operator. He shows a little ignorance of the issue when he asks how many people or drivers I will recruit. I can't recruit anyone on my platform, it's the operators that do this”, she explained, referring to the companies that partner with the platforms and that operate the service, hiring drivers.

“Safety”

Mónica Faneco was categorical in refusing “impositions on her business model” and highlighted that it is based on “protecting women, through safety”, which is why it will not have men as drivers.

“I currently feel unprotected. If IMT doesn't give the ok [so that Pinker can operate], let's leave. But I will continue fighting for women’s rights in Portugal”, she said.

The person in charge said she had presented two challenges to IMT’s decision, awaiting whether or not they would have repercussions. In her argument, Mónica Faneco maintains that the platform “does not discriminate, only if it is positive discrimination”, and emphasizes that she is “defending women’s rights”.

The founder will now move to other European markets, namely Spain, and is also in negotiations to start operating in Italy.