A EXPLORAÇÃO DO TRABALHO NO MUNDO VIRTUAL: Metaverso e a nova era dos profissionais game players

Abstract

Technological advances have brought profound transformations to labor relations, driven by increasing digitalization and the emergence of new forms of work. In the current scenario, the rise of E-work, a form of work carried out almost exclusively through digital technologies, stands out, encompassing professions such as professional video game players. Moreover, the concept of the metaverse, a three-dimensional virtual environment that integrates the physical and digital worlds, gains relevance, offering new opportunities and challenges for the labor market. In this environment, virtual workers, such as game avatars and content creators, perform work activities in an immersive reality, often without adequate legal protection. The problem arises from the absence of specific regulations that guarantee minimum protection for digital workers operating in the metaverse, in this case, e-players, especially regarding working hours, wages, and proper working conditions. The justification for this study lies in the growing integration of emerging technologies into everyday labor and the legal gap that leaves these workers unprotected. The research aims to analyze the transformations in the digital world of work and the resulting legal implications, intending to propose guidelines that ensure the fundamental rights of these workers. The methodology used involves a qualitative and investigative approach, focusing on the hypothetical-deductive method, as well as a hermeneutic and comparative analysis of current legislation to examine how the evolution of digital labor relations impacts the application of fundamental rights in the virtual environment. Concepts such as NFTs and the Play to Earn model, which significantly influence this work scenario in second life, will be analyzed. In the absence of adequate regulation, e-sports professionals frequently find themselves on the margins of state protections, despite being involved in activities that exploit human labor. This study proposes a legal analysis of the transformations of digital labor and the need for regulation to ensure minimum protection for these professionals, based on the fundamental principles of Brazilian Labor Law. The research results suggest applying the fundamental principles of social protection to workers in the metaverse, ensuring them dignity and minimum social rights.Furthermore, it is proposed to create specific regulations for the e-Sports sector, based on the Pelé Law, establishing clear criteria regarding working hours, schedules, and remuneration. In this way, the goal is to ensure that these digital workers have access to fundamental rights, such as paid rest and social protection, in line with the values enshrined in the Federal Constitution and the principles that govern Labor Law in Brazil.