Relações de trabalho e novas tecnologias: um estudo sobre os motoristas do aplicativo Uber em João Pessoa

Abstract

The introduction of new technologies in the world of labor has the power to change labor relations, with its advantages and disadvantages. Within this context, this dissertation had as general objective to analyze what the characteristics of this new relation of work, from the perspective of the drivers, with the use of the Uber application in the city of João Pessoa. In order to achieve this, the following specific objectives were: identify drivers profile; find out the meaning they give to work; to investigate how control of the drivers work by Uber, from their point of view, and, lastly, discover the general conditions of work. The qualitative research was used, with paradigmatic interpretative orientation, by means of the case study method. Data collection was done through semi-structured interviews, from WhatsApp messaging application, with the use of the snowball method, and content analysis to analyze the data collected. Unemployment was cited as the main responsible for the search for this work. The formal income, below requirements, also caused several to seek Uber as the only alternative. The high working hours revealed the face of oppression to the worker subject to capital. They find sense, mainly, in bringing income to their homes, and, in general, are not satisfied. They feel that the control is more technological, from application, informal. It was discovered that the application gives more support to the passenger than to the drivers, in their view. They do not feel total freedom, as sold by the company. Flexibilization of work is the rule to attract these drivers. It was revealed that they can’t keep contact with customers, under penalty of exclusion from the platform. They have informal groups in messaging applications, to try to reduce the risks of routine. The company does not seek interpersonal relationship with its drivers. These workers are in Uber only as a passage, waiting for new opportunities to appear in the formal market. Insecurity is a major concern, mainly because they did not know the destiny of the passengers ("blind runs"). It has also been discovered that several do run "out", to avoid payment of fees to the application, which because it is high, is constantly cited, and to increase passenger safety, making Uber competition. It ends up bringing the term "cyber slavery", to reveal that the high working hours of the workday, without any labor right, makes these workers oppressed by capital.