We explain what's happening with food delivery drivers and Claudia Sheinbaum's proposed law
“Their income shouldn't be affected; that's established by law,” stated Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum. This was intended to reassure drivers and food delivery workers for various apps regarding labor regulations for digital platform workers, an issue that has sparked protests in recent days.
What's happening to food delivery drivers?
“Their income shouldn’t be affected, that’s established in the law, and yes, I’ve been talking to different organizations and the law is specifically for app-based delivery drivers, their salaries shouldn’t be affected, that’s what the Ministry of Labor is for,” the leader commented on November 12 at the morning press conference.
This addresses the concerns of some app-based drivers and delivery workers regarding their potential inclusion in Social Security. Their fear stems from a potential reduction in their earnings and the loss of flexible scheduling, a problem that could significantly impact many of them, including single mothers and students.
The situation of app-based drivers and delivery workers has become a topic of growing interest in recent years. The rise of digital platforms and home delivery services has emerged as a practical alternative for consumers.
The creation of these jobs provides thousands of people with formal employment and their sole source of income, where flexible schedules also play a crucial role. However, the delivery drivers on these platforms operate as "partners" or independent contractors.
This means they lack legally mandated employment benefits, such as social security, vacation time, paid sick leave, and others. This is compounded by the inherent risks of working on the streets, where accidents, assaults, and robberies are commonplace.
The lack of labor protections has led food delivery workers to protest and demand better working conditions. Following the arrival of Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, dialogues began to reach an agreement.
One of the main promises of Claudia Sheinbaum's government
During Claudia Sheinbaum's 100 Promises ceremony, she stated that she would propose a law to provide social security coverage for all delivery workers on digital platforms. According to the mayor, 658,000 members of these platforms could be included in this proposed law.
An initiative that began in the early days of her term. During the morning press conference on October 14, the leader mentioned that work was already underway on this proposal and outlined its main objective:
“They are hired as partners in the company, which they aren't really partners in because there's no profit sharing. They are made partners and have a basic income from the tips the product receives. The goal is for them to have social security. We've been working on this for some time now, both with the delivery drivers, the workers, and with some of the platforms.”
However, with the potential inclusion in Social Security, drivers and food delivery workers are concerned about losing certain benefits. They are particularly worried about the loss of flexible hours and fear that companies will further reduce their wages, leading them to propose a dual system.
Drivers and delivery workers for digital apps are seeking recognition as formal employees without disrupting established practices. Ensuring their safety is a major concern. The question they must answer is: employee or partner?