The Buenos Aires government will present to the National Congress a bill granting labor and economic benefits to workers on platforms such as Rappi, Uber or Pedidos Ya, with which it aims to “contain” them after Javier Milei’s labor reform project excluded them from the benefits of employment.
The initiative was announced in the last hours by Labor Minister Walter Correa and represents a contrast to the ruling party’s solution to the sector, which brought many young voters to La Libertad Avanza, which, according to Senator Patricia Bullrich, requires not working in a dependent relationship or being subject to regulations.
“The national government intends to validate a model that leaves thousands of workers without basic rights by expressly excluding them from protective labor standards,” a Labor Party statement explicitly states, contrasting this with the fact that “the ILO itself is analyzing how to improve the working conditions of platform workers worldwide.”
The initiative proposes measures at three levels: strengthening labor inspection in so-called “invisible camps”; Ensuring the health and safety of workers; the creation of an APP that will give them benefits such as a “panic button” and a “quick safety or health alert in the event of accidents on public roads”; and access to special discounts for purchasing essential materials for their tasks.
“In coordination with municipalities and companies, the creation of public and freely accessible hostels is also encouraged so that workers have adequate rest areas during the working day. They have access to facilities that facilitate personal hygiene and cleanliness, including toilets that ensure access to drinking water in appropriate conditions, and they are facilitated in the safe storage of personal belongings and work equipment,” explained Correa.
The keys to the project
The Ministry of Labor will intensify controls on “invisible businesses,” which the bill defines as “establishments that, behind closed doors, carry out the sale, storage, packaging and delivery of goods, orders for which are processed through digital platforms and from which delivery to delivery agents is made.” These businesses must comply with applicable labor laws.
These centers have to deal with two labor problems: on the one hand, the indoor workers who are under pressure, and on the other hand, the “delivery workers” who usually park or sit on public streets and wait for orders to be issued, without having access to decent working conditions. The project specifies that the work portfolio will be the authority for the application of the standard.
The project also requires companies to take out personal accident insurance at their own expense, which ensures comprehensive coverage against the risks of the activity, including accidental death, permanent disability and emergency medical assistance. This measure establishes a minimum level of occupational health and safety to ensure that every worker receives immediate assistance in the event of a traffic accident or accident while carrying out their tasks.
In addition, it seeks to establish the responsibility of employers for the working conditions of these workers, with a focus on their health and safety aspects, which are clearly the responsibility of the provinces, and also to ensure compliance with their tax obligations.
Another aspect of the initiative will be the creation of an APP that will provide workers with benefits on basic issues related to their work (access to vehicles, insurance, discounts on bicycle and motorcycle parts, tires, lubricants, helmets and protections, etc.) and which will also provide an emergency button for health and another for safety.
The function of the APP
The creation of the APP aims to solve several problems: on the one hand, it will give workers access to a “panic button” or “quick safety alert” that is activated when they notice or are protagonists of an unsafe situation.
The APP will also include a “health emergency button” in case of an accident on public roads. The aim is not to create new accesses, but to simplify their use and maintain the habits of employees associated with the use of mobile phones and applications due to the immediacy they entail.
It also provides free access to support and advice on your fundamental rights and common issues such as obtaining insurance, driving license or immigration procedures, and others.
In this way, the project represents a new step in the development of proposals promoted by a State that strengthens its control and protection role and puts work at the heart of its public policies, with rights and better conditions for workers on digital platforms.
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