Published on May 24, 2022 

The first assessment of labor conditions in Argentina’s platform economy was published this week as part of the Fairwork project. The study is a collaboration between CIPPEC and the Oxford University. It examined labor conditions in 6 food delivery (Rappi, PedidosYa) and transportation (Beat, Didi, Uber and Cabify) platforms based on the five global principles of fair work: fair pay, fair conditions, fair contracts, fair management and fair representation. These principles measure, for example, whether the platforms offer minimum wage or guarantee workers’ safety and health. 

Platforms have experienced a strong boost since the pandemic crisis, as they provided alternatives adapted to new consumption patterns based on social distancing. They also helped to contain the rise in unemployment by providing practical income-generating alternatives. However, this also implied the perpetuation of unfair working conditions. 

On the other hand, CIPPEC analyzed the working conditions of this emerging market at national level. Its goal was to make good and bad labor practices visible and ensure that the public debate is based on evidence. This study was conducted by Pía Garavaglia, project coordinator at CIPPEC and researcher at the University of Buenos Aires. Julieta Haidar, CONICET associate researcher at CITRA, Marina Benedine, Gina Ballabén and Sabina Giostra, in collaboration with the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) at the University of Oxford, also took part.