The federal government must submit a proposal for the regulation of work by application by the end of this semester. The information was released this Wednesday (1st) by the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Luiz Marinho. According to him, the folder has heard representatives of the workers themselves and platforms, specialists and studied the legislation of other countries to reach a consensus on a proposal that guarantees rights to the category. 
“[Estamos] listening to and experimenting with various experiences around the world”, said the minister during a speech at an event with international union entities, at the Planalto Palace.
The meeting was attended by president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former Uruguayan president José Pepe Mujica, as well as leaders of trade union confederations that operate in virtually all countries in the Americas. At the end of the event, Marinho spoke with journalists and commented on the progress of the working group that will propose the new regulation of applications.
“The way it is today, it cannot stay. We are in a listening phase, for the time being, trying to find points of convergence. The idea is to have a proposal by the end of the semester”, he pointed out.
The minister avoided going into details, but explained that the idea is to build a contract model that does not create an employment relationship as provided for in the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT).
“There are workers who work for two or three different applications and do not want a bond. So, let’s find a solution that guarantees rights”, he noted.
If they can contribute to the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), with a possible counterpart from companies, for example, application workers may be entitled to retirement, death pension, disability aid, among other social security benefits.
There is still no definition of the format in which the proposal will be regulated. The government is still evaluating whether to edit a Provisional Measure (MP) or present a bill. In both cases, the initiative needs to go through the National Congress, with the difference that an MP has a faster procedure and is immediately valid for up to 180 days until it is approved.
In his address to international union leaders, Lula criticized the current levels of labor exploitation and the high degree of informal employment in the country.
“Informal work is gaining a greater dimension than formal work and application companies have exploited workers as never before in history have workers been exploited. space, not only in the relationship with their employers, but in the conquest of social security, which workers are losing all over the world”, he stated.
On Twitter, the president said that it is necessary to “rethink relations in the world of work and recover rights and dignity for workers”.
It is a joy to receive today our friend Pepe Mujica and international trade union entities to discuss the challenges of the trade union movement and workers. We need to rethink relationships in the world of work and recover rights and dignity for workers.
?: @ricardostuckert pic.twitter.com/qqCGctr1Hv
— Lula (@LulaOficial) March 1, 2023
mass layoffs
Lula’s statements took place on the same day that Ifood, which is the country’s largest delivery platform, announced the dismissal of 355 employees, representing just over 6% of the company’s workforce in Brazil. In this case, those dismissed are not couriers, since they do not have an employment contract with the company.
In a note, Ifood reported that it took “the difficult decision” to dismiss employees and attributed the mass dismissal to the international economic scenario.
“The current world economic scenario has required companies to take immediate action in the search for new routes to face these adversities. It was no different with iFood. We regret every loss and are committed to ensuring that this difficult time is conducted with the utmost care and respect to these people,” the company said.
*Article amended at 9:03 pm to add information about Ifood layoffs
