Argentina delivery platforms finance riders with high‑interest loans, spurring debt surge

The Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA) reported a rapid rise in platform‑provided credit to delivery riders. The number of indebted workers grew 122 % in 2025 after a 177 % increase between 2023 and 2024, leaving the average monotributista with about 900,000 Argentine pesos in debt.

PedidosYa, a subsidiary of Delivery Hero, granted 57,000 loans totalling US$84 million, with six‑month terms and monthly payments capped at 30 % of a rider’s earnings. Interest rates can reach 700 % per year. Independent workers account for 54 % of borrowers and receive 62 % of the total loan volume; 70 % of the debt is held by riders under 40. The platform’s algorithm determines eligibility based on performance metrics, and loan repayments are automatically deducted from delivery commissions. The BCRA noted that “las plataformas terminaron financiando, sobre todo, a su propia base de repartidores.”

Union leader Belén D’Ambrosio warned of “situaciones de compañeros que extienden su jornada laboral para devolver los préstamos,” describing a structural indebtedness that deepens labor precarity. Other major platforms such as Uber and Cabify denied offering similar financing, while Rappi of Colombia provided no information. The report highlights a growing, unregulated credit market within the gig‑economy.