iFood committed to improving its policies for delivery people to reach the best practice standard of the FairWork project, which evaluates labor relations in digital platform companies around the world. The project is led by the Oxford Internet Institute, a research center linked to the renowned University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom.
FairWork is formed by a network of researchers distributed in 20 countries, on five continents, who analyze the conditions in which workers carry out their activities through digital platforms.
To develop criteria that allow identifying the practices adopted by digital platforms, the project brought together platforms, workers, unions, academics and public policy makers, at events promoted by the International Labor Organization (ILO). Subsequently, workshops held in South Africa, India and Germany reviewed the documentation prepared in the previous phase of debates. This work resulted in these five principles of fair work: fair pay, fair conditions, fair contract, fair management and fair representation.
The FairWork research network is also made up of the University of Manchester (United Kingdom), University of Cape Town (South Africa), University of the Western Cape (South Africa), Bangalore International Institute of Information Technology (India) , WZB Center for Social Sciences in Berlin (Germany), Technical University of Berlin (Germany), Adolfo Ibáñez University (Chile), Lationamericana Faculty of Social Sciences Flacso (Ecuador) and Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia). The Brazilian chapter is coordinated by Digilabour, from Unisinos (RS), and has the support of researchers from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.
iFood initiatives
When commenting on iFood's decision, CEO Fabricio Bloisi was adamant: “We decided to contribute to FairWork because the company and the project have the same focus: the dignity of workers who use digital platforms to earn their livelihood or part of it”. Bloisi also highlighted that iFood “has publicly defended that it is time for Brazil to dedicate itself to the debate on regulation of labor relations in the new economy. We need rules that preserve professionals' autonomy and flexibility to use their time in the way they consider most appropriate for their work.
We need standards that guarantee protection for your life and health when carrying out your activity, minimum earnings and access to the insurance system. social Security. And companies need legal security to continue developing their businesses.”
According to documentation already sent by iFood to FairWork, 98.76% of the delivery drivers who use the platform to provide services earn more than the minimum wage, considering the hours logged and minus the worker's costs.
Since 2019, iFood has implemented policies to ensure delivery partners benefits that improve their working conditions. At no cost to them, the company offers life and accident insurance. In addition, you have health benefits with Avus.
Recently, the company instituted a temporary fund of R$8 million to subsidize fuels spent traveling to make deliveries.
This year, a technical team was set up exclusively to discuss with delivery people about practices that improve the relationship with these strategic partners in the ecosystem coordinated by iFood. The intense listening process, through 50 meetings, resulted in the first National Delivery Drivers Forum, held from December 13th to 15th, with leaders from across the country, to discuss processes and actions that should be implemented to improve working conditions on the platform.
“The purpose of iFood is to feed the future of the world. To achieve this, it is essential that the relationship with all partners that make up our ecosystem and also with consumers and society is a win-win process. In this process, on our part, there will be no lack of empathy, respect and dedication to dialogue and listening”, says Bloisi.
