INSS may face up to R$ 189 million in annual costs for iFood delivery worker benefits

A court injunction in Salvador, Brazil, has mandated that the National Social Security Institute (INSS) must analyze requests for temporary disability benefits from iFood delivery workers without automatic denials. The decision follows a civil public action filed by the Labor Public Prosecutor's Office (MPT).

The ruling requires iFood and the insurer MetLife to preserve and provide data regarding routes, connections, and claims, and prohibits them from obstructing the issuance of Work Accident Communications (CAT). The INSS is tasked with receiving and analyzing these requests individually to determine if the accidents occurred during delivery services.

Financial estimates for the cost to the INSS vary significantly. Based on MetLife's data of approximately 1,600 accidents per year, the annual expenditure could be around R$ 8 million. However, the MPT's estimates, which suggest a higher accident rate, indicate that costs could reach R$ 189.03 million annually.

iFood has filed a request for reconsideration, arguing that the injunction was granted without allowing the company to present arguments. The company maintains that the obligations are incompatible with the autonomous nature of the platform-worker relationship, noting that it already provides accident insurance and other support mechanisms.