Petrobras’ mega-increase in fuel prices may make the work model of app drivers unfeasible, who are already beginning to talk about a major strike in line with truck drivers and delivery men, according to Eduardo Lima de Souza, president of Amasp (Association of Drivers of Sao Paulo).
With an increase of almost 20% in gasoline, the driver’s workload can reach unsustainable levels, that is, companies may face a crisis of lack of manpower in the coming months.
“If nothing is done, we will have a very drastic decrease in application drivers”, says Souza. For the president of Amasp, the new scenario may even exterminate the category.
The business model of running apps is based on a reasoning that just work more hours to earn more. The problem with this is that this number of hours worked can reach impractical levels to cover the cost of the worker and still keep the activity attractive.
“There is no way for the driver to support himself, considering that gasoline is more expensive than the race. Drivers will have to take money out of their pockets for the passenger to arrive at their destination”, says Souza.
He says that Uber and 99 are talking to professionals to minimize the impact, but he fears that the aid offered by the apps is insufficient.
“I say this in comparison to the Covid aid launched by the platforms. The driver who contracted Covid received an aid. This had a deadline, it did not last long. The pandemic is not over yet, drivers are still contracting Covid and can no longer count on the aid , because there is no longer this program”, says Souza.
Souza claims that the app worker was already operating at the limit before the mega-increase in gasoline.
“There’s nothing more to strangle. He’s already increased his workload, he stopped using air conditioning to save fuel. He started to select races, here comes this increase all at once”, he says.
The driver’s leader says that a stoppage is not ruled out. “Either the companies, the state government and the federal government move or the category and several others will die”, he says.
Joana Cunha with Andressa Motter and Ana Paula Branco
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