Business entities demand immediate end to coup blocks

Business entities demand the immediate release of highways blocked by undemocratic acts that are being carried out by bolsonaristas since Monday (31) in the country.

The pressure from sectors such as the industry gained strength this Tuesday (1st) with the publication of communiqués that cite possible losses for companies, employees and consumers.

The CNI (National Confederation of Industry) stated that it is “vehemently opposed to any anti-democratic manifestation that harms the country and its population”.

The entity also points to the “imminent risk of shortages and lack of fuel, if the roads are not quickly unblocked”.

“The industries already feel impacts on the flow of production and report cases of impossibility of moving workers”, says the CNI.

The road blocks were promoted after the announcement of the results of the second round of the presidential elections, which took place on Sunday (30). Without evidence, protesters contest the victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) over Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

Firjan (Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro) stated that “it is essential to unblock the roads as soon as possible”.

According to the entity, the situation has already caused problems in the receipt of raw materials and in the flow of products. There are also difficulties in the displacement of workers, which suspended operations in some factories in Rio de Janeiro.

“Others have chosen to reduce the pace of their production line,” he added.

Fiergs (Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul) also demanded the resolution of the impasse.

“The problem requires an urgent solution so that there is no shortage of essential products, which affects food, fuel, and a large part of the industrial inputs of most manufacturing segments”, he pointed out.

Supermarkets are starting to run out of products

More than 70% of supermarkets in the regions most affected by the road blockages face supply problems, and until this Friday (4), consumers across the country may find it difficult to buy fruits and vegetables. This is what a survey by Abras (Brazilian Association of Supermarkets) indicates, released at a press conference this Tuesday afternoon (1st).

According to Marcio Mila, vice president of the association, even if the flow of vehicles is practically normalized, the blockades made by coup plotters on more than 300 Brazilian roads will lead to shortages within three days.

During the morning of this Tuesday, Apas (Associação Paulista de Supermercados) stated that it has guided its 4,500 associated supermarkets to anticipate logistics in relation to their stores and distribution centers, because of the blockages.

Questioned by Sheet, the two largest food retail groups in the country, Carrefour and Pão de Açúcar (GPA), claim that so far the problems are punctual. Stores in the Chama Supermercados chain, in the east of São Paulo, are starting to run out of meat and vegetables.

Trade projects losses

The impacts go beyond factories. The daily losses of trade with undemocratic blockades may exceed those recorded during the 2018 truck drivers’ strike, according to an estimate by the CNC (National Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism).

In May 2018, the movement caused a retraction of 5.8% in the volume of trade sales – a daily loss of R$ 1.8 billion in 2022 values.

It was the biggest drop in the volume of retail sales for the month of May in the entire historical series of the Monthly Trade Survey, by the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). This time, trade stocks are more fragile than they were before the pandemic.

“Trade depends much more now on the circulation of goods. I would not be surprised if losses reached R$ 2 billion, in terms of daily average”, says the chief economist at CNC, Fabio Bentes.

He points out that this loss does not occur on the first day, but gradually. “Since Covid-19, commerce has become more dependent on virtual sales and deliveries. I don’t believe these losses last ten days, like in 2018, but they cause sales losses and increase costs.”

The economist adds that in May 2018, the reduction in inventories led the price of gasoline to rise 3.34% and diesel, 6.16%.

“Thus, until the distribution of fuels and other products was normalized, inflation eroded the companies’ commercialization margin.”

Cleaning product factories stop production

Abipla (Brazilian Association of Hygiene, Cleaning and Sanitizing Products for Domestic and Professional Use) reported this Tuesday (1st) that roadblocks have already paralyzed the industry in the sector due to lack of inputs.

THE Sheet found that production lines began to be suspended today in industries in at least three regions: interior of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina.

“The sector has lived with a large increase in production costs in recent years, and our expectation was for stabilization by the end of the year. A prolonged stoppage can cause new pressure on costs”, says the executive director of Abipla, Paulo Engler .

Trade unions also spoke out on the subject. In a note, they reaffirmed the defense of democracy and the electoral process.

“We cannot accept a kind of 3rd round that isolated political sectors of bolsonarismo try, in a coup and anti-democratic strategy, to submit Brazilian society through riots, road blocks and other demonstrations without political and popular support”, indicated the manifesto.

The text is signed by CUT (Central Única dos Trabalhadores), Força Sindical, UGT (General Union of Workers), CTB (Central of Workers and Workers of Brazil), NCST (New Trade Union Central) and CSB (Central of Brazilian Unions). ).