High accident rate among digital platform workers
Research points to the underreporting and worsening of occupational accidents and illnesses among digital platform workers.
A study by the Pathways to Work Project indicates that 58.9% of the drivers and delivery drivers who took part had "suffered a traffic accident, illness, assault, aggression or gunshot wound" during the course of their work, making these occurrences work-related accidents.
The results of the survey drew attention, among other things, to two important issues:
- the under-reporting of accidents and occupational diseases in Brazil; and
- the aggravation of these occurrences among segments of workers subjected to the accentuated forms of precariousness observed in digital platform work.
The researchers interviewed 160 workers.
- 81.8% of them were working in Salvador/BA;
- the average age was 35;
- 96.9% of the participants were men;
- 93.2% were black or brown;
- 72% of those interviewed had completed high school.
The study reinforced the thesis that in countries like Brazil this type of activity could not be considered "bico".
App workers work long hours, receive low pay and are subjected to risky working conditions and situations.
The study Survey on the Work of Delivery Drivers and Drivers of Self-Titled "Digital Platforms" was carried out through a partnership between UFBA and Fundacentro, from March 2021 to June 2023, and carried out a survey on the working conditions of app drivers and delivery drivers.
