Good morning! We’re covering today a recent verdict classifying food delivery app workers as “entrepreneurs.” Brazil’s disregard for natural disaster prevention. And the biggest case of modern slavery finally goes to trial.
Labor court denies employment relationship to app workers
A labor court in São Paulo dismissed a request to impose employer responsibilities on food delivery app iFood. In practical terms, the decision denies iFood’s delivery drivers the right to monthly deposits into a severance fund—accessible in the case of redundancy—insurance against workplace accidents, a guaranteed Christmas bonus, paid vacations, among other benefits.
Why it matters. Work for delivery, courier, and transport app companies is one of the main drivers of positive recent job creation numbers—the market is estimated at 4 million people. According to Brazil’s official statistics agency IBGE, these new jobs have a direct link to high unemployment rates.
Be your own boss. The judge in the case agreed with the tech company’s arguments that food delivery drivers are autonomous workers—that is, they are their own bosses. In many firms, they are labeled as “entrepreneurs”—a move pulled in foreign countries to avoid corporate liability.
Yes, but … This argument has been debunked by many legal scholars, who point...