AN EXERCISE IN WORLDMAKING 2009 - ISS

54 SERGIO FERRAGUT
the market and early response to any grievances that may arise among
the street vendors. (see appendix 1k and 2).
Although grievances among vendors and/or the administration of the
market are not common, they do occur; however, most of them include
minor violations of the rules and disputes among the street vendors that
are easily addressed and solved by the staff representing the OASM at
the market. Early response by the OASM staff at the market level facilitates
the resolution and addressing of grievances that could otherwise
escalate into major conflicts. Mario, an OASM staff member, has been
working on the market floor for a few years and comments that “problems
occur, but when vendors receive their permits they also sign an
agreement where they accept to comply with all the rules and regulations
established for the market, the rules are clear and they know them, we
are here to make sure they comply, which in most cases they do” (Mario,
OASM staff at the HCM, 2009, first hand interview).
When grievances cannot be resolved at the market level, the main office
of the OASM is notified immediately. After reviewing the report
prepared by the staff at the market, the OASM contacts the vendors involved
for hearings, and then, in accordance with the established rules
and regulations, makes a decision, and if necessary, imposes a sanction.
In case the vendor does not agree with the decision of the OASM, he or
she has the chance to recourse in first instance to the MTH, and in last
instance, to the judicial court. As indicated by a staff from the OASM, in
her many years of experience, she has never handled a case that has
reached such stages and the number of street vendors that have had their
licenses revoked is minimal (Marieke, OASM staff at the main office,
2009, first hand interview).
THE SELLERS AT THE MARKET
At the time, there are approximately five hundred and fifty vendors that
have received permits from the OASM to own a stall at the HCM. Permits
are issued for three years to individuals that are already registered in
the Dutch Chamber of Commerce as authorized to own a private business
on their name and are either renewed automatically after completion
of the three years period or inherited to direct family members after
death (MTH website, 2009). As noted above, permits are rarely rescinded.
As a result of this policy and circumstances, new places in the
market rarely become available. The OASM administers the waiting list