RETHINKING UBERIZATION: SCOPE, CONTOURS AND CHALLENGES OF THIS PHENOMENON IN THE WORLD OF WORK

Abstract

This article proposes a critical analysis of the concept of "uberization, " often indiscriminately used to describe various phenomena related to platform-mediated labor. It is argued that such generalization can obscure the nuances and complexities of contemporary labor relations, emptying the analytical potential of the term. Through empirical research conducted with delivery workers in the city of Catalão (GO), the study reveals the heterogeneity of working conditions in this sector, distinguishing between the "platformization" of services and "uberization" itself, which implies subordination and precariousness. The results demonstrate that, in addition to workers directly linked to large platforms, there is a vast contingent of informal delivery workers who operate for local establishments, mediating their working conditions through alternative channels such as WhatsApp. This dynamic is partly driven by the high fees charged by platforms to restaurants, encouraging the search for independent delivery solutions. It is concluded that uberization is not a homogeneous phenomenon but a specific manifestation of a broader process of labor precarization, which overlaps with and deepens pre-existing informality. Furthermore, there is a warning that regulatory debates may focus solely on platform workers, neglecting a significant portion of equally vulnerable workers.