The prices of the essentials a Brazilian gig worker needs to buy to do their job have gone up since last year.
Clothing, electronics, and vehicles are now more expensive than in 2023. Price increases are particularly significant for laptops (+24.94%), basic car insurance (+19.57%), and bicycles (+12.30%).
These are the findings of WageIndicator's quarterly cost of living survey, conducted with the help of 300 collectors around the world.
WHAT ABOUT FUEL, CLOTHES AND INTERNET PLANS? EXPLORE VISUALS!
The bigger picture: President Lula's Bill Between Hourly Rates and Costs
The gig economy in Brazil has been in turmoil since March, when President Lula sent a bill to Congress to introduce a package of measures in favour of four-wheel ride-hailing drivers, including an hourly remuneration “composed of 8.03 reais (which would exceed the current federal minimum hourly wage of 6.42 reais, ed.) as compensation for the services provided and 24.07 reais as compensation for the costs incurred by the worker in providing individual private paid transport of passengers". Costs include mobile phone use, fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance, taxes, and depreciation, as covered by the WageIndicator cost of living survey.
If the National Congress approves the bill, the total hourly rate will be 32.10 reais, but only for drivers who work a minimum of 8 hours and a maximum of 12 hours per day.
But There Is a But: The Hybrid Status of Gig Workers
Concerns have been raised about sections of the bill that allow drivers to remain independent contractors, while platforms can enforce standards, use real-time monitoring, and apply ratings without creating employment relationships. This hybrid working model—autonomy with rights—is causing scepticism among experts.
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