The Municipality of Quito began a census of self-employed workers

Since November 8, the District Trade Coordination Agency (ACDC) of Quito began a census to find out how many self-employed workers there are in the city. Information is collected from regularized and non-regularized workers found in the urban area of ​​the capital.

Pollsters will collect data inside and outside markets, free fairs, platforms, shopping centers, land terminals. They will also visit the sectors where there is a high concentration of formal and informal trade. At the moment, a similar survey is not contemplated in rural parishes.

Edison Carrillo, District Trade Coordinator, explained that the investigation seeks determine what the conditions of these people are and, in the case of the informal, to know how many want to regularize. Those who work as longshoremen and those who move merchandise on tricycles are included.

The results of the census will be obtained in approximately 60 days and will serve as input for the preparation of the Quito Master Marketing Plan, in which medium and long-term guidelines will be established, Carrillo announced. The intention is have the plan ready by June 2022, to inform the Metropolitan Council, advanced the coordinator

As part of the intervention plan for the historic center, between October 12 and 17, the ACDC carried out a rapid data collection of non-regularized vendors who work in that area.

A total of 356 people were interviewed, of which 150 did not want to give information. Of the 206 merchants who did respond, 112 said they were willing to regularize, Others expressed not feeling confident in the process and others indicated that they do not make permanent sales, but do so occasionally.

Carrillo explains that the last group also represents a problem, since it involves “Swallow merchants” that go out to sell seasonally or on specific occasions. These cases were increased by the crisis generated by the pandemic, he said. (I)