Argentina delivery workers face 700% interest loans from platforms

A recent report from the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA) shows that delivery riders using gig‑economy apps are increasingly borrowing from the platforms they work for. The average outstanding debt per rider is between 900,000 and 1,000,000 pesos, with the number of borrowers jumping 122% in 2025 after a 177% rise from 2023 to 2024. Platforms assess creditworthiness using internal data such as tenure, acceptance rates and user ratings, then deduct loan repayments automatically from each order.

Union leader Belén D’Ambrosio of SITRAREPA warned that annual interest rates can reach 700%, forcing many couriers to work 10‑12 hour shifts just to meet repayments. She said, “Tenemos compañeros que trabajan entre diez y doce horas diarias para cubrir los gastos fijos y devolver los créditos.” The union is calling for state regulation of this lender‑employer model. One platform, Pedidos Ya, reported having granted more than 57,000 loans since 2024, amounting to roughly 84 million dollars, positioning the gig‑economy as both a job market and a credit provider.