Uberization, Delivery Apps and Child Labor exploitation in Brazil

Abstract

https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-8966/2026/93238

The prohibition of Child Labor is a principle firmly enshrined in international human rights law, the Brazilian Federal Constitution (1988), and national labor law. Despite these legal safeguards, social indicators continue to reveal the widespread exploitation of children and adolescents in various types of work. This article examines the use of child labor in the context of profound deregulation of labor relations, characterized by the rise of uberization and the platformization of work - especially in the delivery of ready-made meals and other products by Delivery apps. Drawing on media reports, data from the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (PNAD Contínua/IBGE), and the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (Sinan/MS), we analyze the prevalence of child labor in delivery app services, its classification as one of the worst forms of Child Labour, and the associated risks. We argue that the ongoing deregulation of labor relations under the logic of uberization contributes significantly to this new and harmful mode of Child Labor exploitation.