Labor Public Prosecutor's Office sues Uber over fee program
Prosecutor requests suspension of program and collective moral damages compensation
The Labor Public Prosecutor’s Office filed a nationwide public civil action against Uber over a program that charges drivers a fee to allow them to accept rides through the app. The action was presented by the Regional Labor Prosecutor’s Office of the 5th Region, in Bahia.
What is the Driver Pass?
The program, called Driver Pass, changes how the platform charges drivers for using the app. In the traditional model, Uber deducts its share as rides are completed. With the pass, the driver pays in advance to gain access to rides by purchasing a package.
The program offers two options. In the Time Pass, the driver pays a fixed fee to ride for 24 or 72 consecutive hours, with no additional service fee during that period. In the Earnings Pass, the driver pays a one‑time amount and is exempt from the service fee until reaching a pre‑established earnings cap.
Debt risk highlighted
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the program creates a risk of indebtedness and the model can lead partner drivers into a state of debt servitude. The MPT asks the Court to order the program’s suspension within 48 hours, and to award R$321 million in collective moral damages.
The agency notes that the worker pays in advance to access rides, but takes on the risk of not getting enough trips to recoup the invested amount. If the worker lacks sufficient balance to pay for the pass, the amount owed is automatically deducted from their future platform earnings.
Company’s position
Uber refutes the conclusions presented by the MPT in the action and claims that the prosecutors’ allegations are based on misunderstandings of how the platform operates and on ideological positions regarding the drivers’ relationship with the app. The company says it will provide the Court with the necessary information to clarify the raised points.
The company also states that the Driver Pass is an alternative to the traditional per‑ride billing model, is in a testing phase, and aims to give drivers predictability regarding the cost of the intermediary service.
Information from Folha de S.Paulo, O GLOBO, Estadão.
Source: Folha de S.Paulo, O GLOBO, Estadão