Law of sizes: the strong criticism of an economist and the crossroads of a Frente Amplista deputy

“The House of Representatives is considering a project called the ‘size law’, which is a flagrant manifestation of legislative voluntarism promoted with supine ignorance of reality which, if approved, will have disastrous effects on the vast majority of the population,” said Bonilla about the initiative, which, previously, was presented on two occasions by white deputies and taken up by the current deputy Bettiana Díaz (MPP).

“The project in question proposes that all companies that produce, distribute or import clothing ‘must have clothing in all sizes that correspond to the anthropometric characteristics of the population, regardless of their sex, gender and age group'”continued Bonilla about the project, whose primary objective is to guarantee the diversity of sizes in the stores and establish a coherent relationship between the sizes of the garments that are exhibited for sale with the corporality of Uruguayans.

“How is it possible that all the businesses in the country have sizes that correspond to the anthropometric characteristics of the population? With an ‘anthropometric study of the population’ that will define what are the appropriate sizes for Uruguayans”, wondered the former adviser to the Minister of Economy, Azucena Arbeleche, until a year ago.

“Evidently We are facing a project that does not know the complexities of carrying out a business and, directly, reality, blinded by the fashion of calling any need a right”, Bonilla continued about the project that had the support of all the political parties upon leaving the Commission for Equity and Gender Commission of Deputies where it was discussed in First instance.

“From a legal point of view, the bill is grossly unconstitutional. by forcing the sale of merchandise that businesses do not want to sell, as well as contrary to our entire legal system. From an economic point of view, it is impossible to achieve.does not know how importers buy clothing abroad who will not be able to get the “Uruguayan sizes” defined by the legislator, forcing the closure of companies”, the economist developed.

Hernan Bonilla. (Archive, 2020)

“For all consumers, and especially the most vulnerable population, will dramatically increase clothing prices, destroy thousands of jobs and force hundreds of businesses to close (from neighborhood haberdashery to shops in the malls)”, asserted the president of the CED.

“If you want to make an effective contribution to the problem that the project denounces, positive incentives should be established so that there is a greater supply of sizes, without forcing shops to have stocks of clothing that they are not going to sell,” he added.

“In defense of the general interest of consumers, employment and companies (including fairgrounds) this project should be scrapped without further considerations and formulate another that does not violate the freedom of trade, setting a disastrous precedent, “concluded Bonilla.

It should be noted that the expansion of sizes in the store menu was an initiative taken by several leaders of various political and social sectors for 16 years and has not been able to transcend.

The first proposal on the subject was presented in 2007 by the then white deputy Carlos Enciso and, although it was approved in Deputies, the project did not become law.

Diego Battiste

Bettiana Diaz. (Archive, 2022)

Then, in 2016, the also white deputy Pía Biestro presented a proposal that was not discussed. In 2020, the Diverse collective adjusted the Biestro project. Later, that project was taken up by Díaz, after he had unarchived it.

After Bonilla’s tweets, Diaz replied: “From the total discrepancy It is not understood why Bonilla’s lack of respect and the qualifiers used in this thread.

“Another violent man who deserted the government and used the revolving door to friendly foundations, are we surprised? We are not surprised,” said the fentemaplista deputy also through his personal Twitter account.