Amazonas Government Debt Threatens Student Bus Passes in Manaus

A financial impasse between the Amazonas State Government and public transport companies threatens the provision of free bus passes for nearly 198,000 state school students in Manaus. The Sindicato das Empresas de Transporte de Passageiros do Estado do Amazonas (Sinetram) reported that transport concessionaires can no longer afford to fund these subsidies using their own resources due to outstanding payments from the state.

During a conciliation hearing at the Regional Labor Court of the 11th Region (TRT-11), no agreement was reached between the parties. While students with existing balances on their cards can continue to use them, the interruption specifically affects the issuance of new monthly credits.

The state government has indicated that reimbursements to the companies would occur through the judicial precatórios system. However, Sinetram contests this method, arguing that school transportation is a continuous monthly service that requires regular cash flow rather than payments tied to definitive judicial decisions.