Bogotá, Colombia – There is a quiet revolution unfolding on the streets of Argentina, where delivery workers crisscross cities under the glowing lights of a thousand restaurants, their movements dictated by the rhythm of an app. Yet, for all the speed and convenience that these services bring, their workers have long toiled in a shadow world—untethered to the labor laws that shield so many others.
Rappi, a leader in the gig economy, is stepping forward now, not just as a company with a vision for the future, but as a partner to those who deliver it. They have announced a bold collaboration with Argentina’s government, specifically the administration of President Javier Milei, in an effort to create a legal framework for these delivery workers—workers who have often existed without the net of legal protections that offer dignity, safety, and recognition.
A Path to Dignity: Working Toward Rights for Rappi’s Delivery Workers
“We see the landscape of Argentina with optimism,” says Martín Martorell, Rappi’s Vice President of Corporate Affairs, his voice filled with the kind of hope that promises change, the kind that brings forth both possibility and responsibility. He speaks not just of profit margins and growth, but of people—the 32,000 delivery workers who each day lace up their shoes or rev their bikes, hoping that today’s orders will be enough to carry them through.
These workers, most of whom spend 20 hours or less each week on the app, are the lifeblood of Rappi, but they have long sought recognition as more than just nodes in a vast system of commerce. They are parents, students, dreamers. They have chosen this work for its flexibility—the chance to shape their own hours and blend it with the rest of their lives. But flexibility, in this case, has come at the cost of stability.
Cristian Ritondo, head of the Pro Party, has introduced legislation in Argentina that Rappi eagerly supports. This proposal aims to give delivery workers greater control—allowing them the freedom to connect on their own terms, to reject orders without fear, and to work without rigid schedules. It seeks to codify the independence these workers value, but with the shield of rights that they deserve.
The Power of Independence and Safety in the Gig Economy
The promise of Ritondo’s proposal lies in its respect for the gig worker’s desire for autonomy. It champions the “freedom of connection”—a simple yet profound concept that allows delivery workers to log in when it suits them, a power that is the very essence of the modern gig economy. But the proposal goes deeper, addressing concerns about safety, compensation, and data transparency. Under this framework, workers would receive personal accident insurance, ensuring that those who race across the streets to meet deadlines are not left unprotected in times of need. They would keep every peso of their tips, and be granted the right to see why they’ve been blocked from the platform—transparency that is, for many, a matter of survival.
For Rappi, the benefits of this framework are clear. “The economy of platforms is essential for the socio-economic inclusion of millions of young people in Argentina,” Ritondo said, reflecting on the potential impact. And Rappi, as much as it profits from the orders placed through its app, knows that it must be more than just an intermediary. It must be a force for good, helping workers carve out spaces of safety and dignity within the cracks of the digital world.
A New Future for Delivery Workers: A Call for Stability
But while Rappi’s vision is one of independence, María Rosa Martínez, a senator from Unión por la Patria (UxP), sees a different path—one grounded not in flexibility but in security. She has proposed a national registry that would list each worker and the companies they labor for, ensuring that they are seen, accounted for, and protected. Her words are sharp with the weight of responsibility: “These workers have been left vulnerable to the whims of a system that does not care for them,” she declared.
Martínez’s proposal draws a clear line between freedom and protection, demanding that workers be classified within a labor framework that recognizes their status as more than independent contractors. It would establish the kind of security that many workers crave—the ability to know that their work, though flexible, comes with rights that can never be taken away.
Rappi’s Vision for Tomorrow: Empowering Through Opportunity
In the midst of these debates, Rappi is not merely waiting for the laws to change. They are already forging ahead, hand-in-hand with the Secretariat of Labor, Employment, and Social Security. Together, they have unveiled a program aimed at lifting those who live on society’s margins, helping them find their way into the world of digital labor. This initiative opens doors for beneficiaries of social programs, teaching them skills that can transform their lives. The program connects them with seasoned delivery workers, offering mentorship, community, and hope.
“These agreements are crucial for lifting people out of poverty,” Martorell said, his voice full of conviction. Rappi is betting not just on its app, but on the people who make it run. It is a bet on humanity itself.
The Road Ahead: Expanding Opportunity Across Argentina
Since 2018, Rappi has brought its vision of convenience and opportunity to Argentina, establishing itself in over 60 locations across the country, from the hustle of Buenos Aires to the tranquil streets of Bariloche. Their ambitions stretch far beyond food delivery—they are building a world where technology and humanity intersect. In the next four years, Rappi plans to expand further, adding between 15,000 and 25,000 new business partners, while doubling the number of delivery workers.
Their Turbo service, which promises to bring groceries in just ten minutes, is already transforming daily life in cities like La Plata and Mar del Plata. And Turbo Restaurants, a service that delivers meals in just as little time, ensures that no one need wait long for the comfort of a hot meal.
In all of this, there is the steady heartbeat of something larger than business. It is the heartbeat of a new kind of world—one that values the person as much as the profit, the worker as much as the work. It is a world where dignity, like the meals that Rappi delivers, arrives right on time.
