Alicia Gutiérrez, former pool runner and secretary of conflicts of the National Union of workers, sellers of pools, bingo, games of chance and the like in Paraguay (Sitranquiba), reported that they will call a demonstration in front of the National Games of Chance Commission (Conajzar) next May 26.
The reason is the massive layoffs of quinieleros that do not reach the daily goal that is G. 200 thousand. The goal is to convene a large nationwide demonstration.
“The machines are being taken away from them. The new provision says that if the daily goal of G. 200,000 is not reached, the device will be removed, ”he said.
The latest threat is that 10 devices will be removed today, Friday, from Ñemby. Already another 10 were withdrawn last Saturday. Due to this situation, clandestine pools proliferate. Those in charge of the agencies are threatened by TDP that if they do not remove the devices they may also lose the agency.
The firm’s argument is that they lose between G. 35 to 55 million per agency each month. For this reason, they demand a daily goal from their runners.
“There are sick people who cannot do heavy work. I am referring to two grandparents from Villa Elisa. A marriage that was dedicated to the sale of the pool, their machine was taken from both of them. Also a colleague recently operated on the lung ”, he pointed out.
More than 50 quinieleros have already lost their jobs due to this situation. Among them, about 10 older adults. About a month ago the threats from TDP began. Due to this, the workers requested a meeting with the new head of the Conajzar, however, María Galván del Puerto, did not attend them. She has been in office on an interim basis since mid-February after the resignation of José Ortiz. Quinieleros regret that the situation has not changed at all after the change.
“For me it is the same thing. If she was Ortiz’s adviser, what changes can there be, “explained Gutiérrez.
MORE COMPLAINTS
Another pool runner, who preferred to remain anonymous, denounced that there is an irregularity in the numbers drawn, since they are repeated several times.
For example, the number sung today is 42, tomorrow it can be repeated again 42. Another option may be that tomorrow 63 comes and repeats again.
It should be remembered that workers only receive 20% of what they collect.
PRECARIOUSNESS
The firm that operates the pool is Technologies Development of Paraguay (TDP). It belongs to Diego Wasmosy, son of former President Juan Carlos Wasmosy.
The complaints against the company were accentuated at the end of 2020 when journalistic publications revealed that the company was failing to pay the fees that should have been destined for the ex-combatants of the Chaco War.
This is the breach of article 32 of law 431/73 “On pensions in favor of veterans of Chaco.” And article 19 of Law 1016/97 “On the regime for the exploitation of Games of Chance”.
Despite these complaints, and in the same month of September, the National Games of Chance Commission (Conajzar), again awarded TDP for the exploitation of the pool game for the next five years (2025) with the endorsement of Mario Abdo Benitez, President of the Republic.
