Valdetina Santos, a 45-year-old employee, expressed her indignation in a video denouncing that a bus did not stop at her drop-off point after the end of the shift due to her wearing the selective collection uniform. The incident occurred in Aparecida de Goiânia, located in the Metropolitan Region of the capital.
The worker told g1 that she has worked as a street sweeper for almost two years and that this was the first time she experienced prejudice. Emotional, she declared: 'I am still trying to forget, because the sadness is very great. What I have to say is that I just want justice.'
The Prefecture of Aparecida de Goiânia issued an official note informing that, through the Secretariat of Urban Development and the Aparecida Limpa Consortium, it offered support to collaborator Valdetina Santos and vehemently repudiated any acts of discrimination.
According to the prefecture, the Metropolitan Company of Collective Transport (CMTC) contacted the carrier responsible for the line where the alleged episode happened. The driver involved was temporarily removed from operation while the facts are investigated.
CMTC also commented on the case, assuring that 'all measures are being taken to investigate the facts.' HP Mobilidade, for its part, informed g1 that it only learned about the occurrence after its publication on social media, as there was no formal record of the incident in the official channels of the public transport system.
HP Mobilidade reinforced its commitment not to tolerate discriminatory practices or disrespectful treatment to passengers, maintaining training programs to ensure humane, respectful, and equal service to all users.
Worker denounces discrimination
Valdetina explained that the video, which went viral on social media, was recorded by her niece the previous week at her request. In the recording, the street sweeper appears visibly upset while describing what happened. She mentioned: 'When I returned from the stop, I was crying too much, and she [niece] recorded it for me. I asked her to record it; I was already tired of so much discrimination.'
In the video, she detailed that because of this situation, she had been returning home late for more than five days. The worker lamented: 'I am a hardworking person [...] I am being discriminated against by HP. I cannot get on the bus; they keep rejecting me, and I am getting home late because they don't let me. They say it's broken, these 'things,' and won't let me in.'
She continued to vent about the injustice: 'I can't even go home, take a shower, and rest [...] What kind of discrimination is this? Just because I'm wearing this uniform, I am a worker like everyone else, and I need to rest so I can go to work.'
The street sweeper also informed g1 that she had already forgiven the driver on three previous occasions. Since the driver's name was not disclosed, it was not possible to contact him for a statement. Images provided by Valdetina show her walk home, a moment when she is accompanied by a lawyer and plans to seek her rights judicially.
HP Mobilidade Statement
HP Mobilidade confirmed its respect for the passenger and recognized the legitimacy of the reports that users consider subject to investigation. However, the company clarified that it became aware of the case solely through a social media post, as there was no prior registration in the official channels of the public transport system.
The company emphasized that the post did not contain crucial data for verifying the facts, such as line, date, boarding time, or vehicle identification, elements considered essential for a correct investigation. HP Mobilidade reiterated its commitment not to accept any form of disrespectful or discriminatory treatment to passengers, maintaining training initiatives to promote accessible, safe, and quality service.