Thousands of motorists nationwide deactivated their applications in the early hours of Monday as part of the national strike called by the National Union of Digital Platform Workers of Peru (Sintrapladi) in demand of better working conditions, while a group mobilized towards the headquarters of Rappi and Pedidos Ya, in San Isidro.
The stoppage, which brought together several hundred of these drivers on the Costa Verdetook place just 24 hours before the meeting that the leaders will hold at the Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion (MTPE), as part of the ‘Participatory process for updating the national decent employment policy’.
The representative of Sintrapladi, Paul Véliz, maintained that the platforms chose to launch economic incentives that multiplied the value of the trips, in order not to leave the service unattended.
“Rappi was forced to give incentives of S/8 per order. Starting at noon, eleven orders for S/72 and, at night, ten orders for S/70, something that never happens on a Monday. They did that to discourage people. We do not rule out future legal actions, since we are now exhausting all avenues for negotiation,” Véliz highlighted.
The statement of claims was not received at the Rappi offices. However, Orders Now It did admit the document and has sought to contact the union leaders to establish work meetings, according to Sintrapladi.
At the moment, There are around 46,000 people who work on applications throughout Peruaccording to the Digital Platforms Observatory.
Key link
Motorized work has become a cornerstone for some economic activities, such as the restaurant and service business, where its relative boom began during the pandemic period.
Blanca Chávez, president of Ahora Perú, maintained that this Monday’s march did not have a major impact on businesses, as it indicates that many have chosen, over time, to have their own couriers due to the high costs of contracting with platforms.
Even without full regulation – like that of Colombia – the Peruvian Institute of Economics (IPE) points out that 2023 began in Peru with almost 10,000 companies that had some type of agreement with applications. It is estimated that, in 2022, sales through these channels amounted to S/1,360 million, 31% of income from these “allies”.
Lack of regulation and dialogue
Approach. Alejandra Dinegro, Platforms Observatory-Peru
Since 2019, delivery platform workers have led protests for their labor rights. They denounce unilateral cuts in the base rate and demand effective accident insurance during their shift. They demand increases in the base rate and effective dialogue channels to address their problems.
This reality reflects job insecurity in app-based employment, where the lack of regulation, information and effective dialogue leaves workers exposed to unfair conditions and risks to their safety and well-being. It is urgent that the Ministry of Labor react with seriousness and commitment to this sector that represents 1.1% of the EAP in Lima.
The data
Marches. The mobilization also took place in other cities, such as Cusco, Piura and Arequipa, according to Sintrapladi.
Source: Larepublica
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