Brazil government pushes law to protect app‑based drivers and couriers

Minister Guilherme Boulos, head of the Secretariat‑General of the Presidency, said the Lula administration is committed to defending the rights of workers who operate through gig‑platforms such as Uber, iFood and similar services. He pledged to press for legislation that guarantees a dignified remuneration for drivers, motorcyclists, couriers and mototaxistas.

Key initiatives include the Move Brasil credit programme, a government‑backed line of up to R$30 billion that reserves at least R$3 billion each for women and taxi drivers, with interest rates of 0.99% per month for men and 0.91% for women and terms of up to 72 months. The government also introduced transparency rules requiring platforms to display fee splits, imposing fines of up to R$14 million for non‑compliance. A new health regulation now classifies accidents suffered by motorcyclist workers as occupational injuries, allowing them to seek labor‑court compensation.

The Parada Certa programme will create 100 urban support points for gig workers, offering facilities such as hygiene stations, food and training; the first site opened on 26 June in Mauá, São Paulo. President Lula asked officials to treat the issue with a careful, respectful approach, and Boulos said the administration will continue to advocate for the needed legal changes.