Brazil gig economy faces labor rights and safety challenges

The rise of the gig economy in Brazil has introduced significant challenges regarding occupational health, safety, and labor rights. While digital platforms offer flexibility, workers such as delivery drivers and ride-hailing operators face risks including extended working hours, productivity pressure, and a lack of formal protections due to their classification as autonomous workers rather than employees.

Recent developments, including the International Labour Organization’s Convention No. 193, suggest a shift in how labor relations are evaluated. Instead of focusing solely on contractual labels, the convention emphasizes the actual facts of work organization, direction, and control, including the role of automated systems. This approach aims to determine employment status based on how work is executed and remunerated.

In Brazil, the number of people working primarily through digital platforms grew by 25.4% between 2022 and 2024, reaching approximately 1.7 million according to IBGE data. However, real income growth for these workers (1.2%) significantly lagged behind the private sector average (6.2%). Critics note that algorithmic management often creates a ‘false freedom,’ where low pay necessitates long hours to meet minimum income requirements.