Analizar el impacto social y económico de los trabajadores informales debido a la remodelación del centro de Machala.

Abstract

In this case study, we have sought to analyze the Social and Economic impact on informal workers (street vendors, those with street stalls, or individuals without a tax ID number) in order to understand the difficulties and problems that those who were hastily evicted by the Municipality of Machala had to face as an urgent measure due to the presence of COVID-19, which acted as the main circumstance for the Municipal authorities to carry out the immediate eviction of all the streets and avenues that made up the central area to prevent a significant increase in infections. Moreover, this eviction was utilized by the municipality to remodel the said sector. These measures brought great discontent in this sector as the measures that were supposed to serve as alternatives for the informal workers to resume their activities as soon as possible were simply improvised measures, such as the relocation of street stalls to the premises of the Chamber of Industries. However, this place lacked the infrastructure to accommodate the majority of those evicted. All of this resulted in a decline in the quality of life of informal workers, a decrease in the consumption of their basic necessities, as well as the loss of savings for many of them, as some simply could not relocate in the short term to continue their activities. Many opted to pursue other trades to sustain themselves and thus avoid a complete collapse in their quality of life. On the other hand, the Municipality of Machala strengthened its actions for the welfare of the majority of citizens by preventing the congregation of people in the central area and, at the same time, delivering a completely remodeled sector where disorder and untidiness no longer prevailed.