LatinNews Daily - 20 May 2026

*Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed a ‘medida provisória’ (MP) decree to open a R$30bn (US$5.9bn) credit line for drivers working on ride-hailing and delivery apps. With the latest measure, delivery drivers and taxi drivers will be offered credit to help them buy their own cars, with loans at lower interest rates. During the ceremony yesterday where Lula signed the MP, he highlighted that many gig economy workers contracted by apps such as Uber often rent cars for work, which puts a greater burden of recurring costs on the driver. Also attending the ceremony was the secretary general of the presidency, Guilherme Boulos, who explained that drivers will only pay the first instalment of the loan after six months, and the total loan can be paid in instalments across 72 months. Aside from this MP, Boulos said that the government has other initiatives aimed at supporting app drivers and delivery riders, such as a plan to build more rest stops with bathrooms, changing rooms, and a dining area for drivers, as well as new regulations that oblige apps to display information to customers about how much their driver is really earning from a ride.

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