Good Practice

Tô Legal

A smart electronic system that simplifies and expedites the authorisation process for individuals providing informal services in public spaces, acting as a gateway to the formal economy.

City of São Paulo
Brazil
Local policy

 POLICY OBJECTIVE

To simplify obtaining permits for street vendors, foster entrepreneurship, and transition informal workers into the formal economy while enhancing transparency and location monitoring.

 CONTEXT

São Paulo, with a population exceeding 12 million, is a central hub for job seekers, with many working in the informal sector. Obtaining permits traditionally required at least seven days, visits to municipal offices, and extensive paperwork, which was a barrier to legal work.

This system creates a pathway for those unable to enter the formal job market to work legally.

 POLICY DESCRIPTION

By recognising informality, Tô Legal fosters entrepreneurship and encourages many informal sector workers to transition into the formal economy gradually. It does this by making it easier for informal vendors to apply for permits and use them flexibly. Additionally, Tô Legal enhances transparency, improves efficiency, uses geographic information systems (GIS) for location monitoring, and reduces corruption through better payment control.

Tô Legal was designed as a gateway for individuals who need to work legally but may lack the qualifications, education, or experience necessary for formal employment. This smart electronic system, utilised by the city of São Paulo, enables citizens currently working illegally and insecurely on the streets to formalise their activities over time.

The system enables users to apply for permits, select appropriate streets for vending, find information about other vendors in the area and their offerings, update their registrations, and pay municipal fees online. Civil servants can easily access information about permits and authorisations, streamlining inspection procedures and significantly enhancing transparency and accountability.

 KEY ASPECTS

  • Speed: Reduces bureaucracy significantly.
  • Inclusion: Designed for those lacking qualifications for formal employment.
  • Technology: Uses GIS and online payment systems to reduce corruption.

 RESULTS

  • Time Savings: The permit process was reduced from 7 days to just 1 hour online.
  • Transitional Support: Successfully enables citizens working insecurely to formalise their activities.

 DESCRIPTION

Acknowledgements:
This good practice was identified with the cooperation Nicholas You, Executive Director of Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation and originally published in the Use cases of people-centered CitiVerse report.

Policy's Website

Pedro

Rebelo

Executive Director of International Business

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