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With Revenues Reaching R$ 12 Thousand Per Month, Flexible Schedules, Absence of Direct Supervision and 2.2% Growth in Male Informal Income in Minas Gerais, Work with Deliveries by Marketplaces Redesigns the Market and Attracts Ex-CLT
A report from O Tempo showed that the expansion of deliveries through marketplaces transformed the urban routine of Belo Horizonte and opened a source of income for freelancers, with monthly revenues reaching R$ 12 thousand, flexible schedules, and a direct impact on the informal income indicators released in 2024.
The scene repeats itself daily in the capital of Minas Gerais, with couriers without specific identification making quick deliveries in homes and condominiums. The activity, previously concentrated in the Postal Service, has become a primary or supplementary source of income for those registered on platforms like Amazon, Mercado Livre, and Shopee.
One example is Jaderson Barbosa dos Santos, 43 years old, who left two decades of signed work as a driver to act as a freelance courier for Amazon. About a year ago, he acquired his own vehicle and started the new activity.
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In the more favorable months, Jaderson claims to earn up to R$ 12 thousand, an amount approximately three times higher than what he earned as a CLT employee. The courier makes between 30 and 60 deliveries per day and maintains this occupation as his only source of current income.
According to him, even with monthly expenses of around R$ 2,500 on gasoline, his net income is still higher than what he obtained before. Jaderson emphasizes that the financial autonomy compensated for the change, bringing forward a personal plan that anticipated the transition only at 45 years old.
Official Data Indicate Advance of Male Informal Income
Individual reports find support in official numbers. The Synthesis of Social Indicators, released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics on 12/3, indicates that the only subgroup with a growth in average income in 2024 was that of men in informal jobs, with an increase of 2.2%.
Among women in informal occupations in Minas Gerais, the average income showed a decrease of 1.2%. In the formal market, men experienced a decline of 0.5% in average habitual income, while women recorded a more pronounced decrease of 5.3%.
The survey considers informal occupations as employees and domestic workers without signed contracts, self-employed workers and employers without social security contributions, as well as auxiliary family workers, according to the IBGE methodology.
Besides the financial aspect, Jaderson highlights factors such as the absence of direct supervision and greater schedule flexibility. He states that the ability to pause or resume work without penalties contributed to his decision to abandon formal employment.
“It used to be better,” assesses Augusto Cruz, 34 years old, a Shopee courier since 2023. Currently, he makes between 100 and 120 deliveries per day, working three days a week, with an average daily earning of R$ 335.
Augusto reports that increased competition has reduced the number of available rides per driver, necessitating a rotation among couriers. The unrestricted opening of registrations, according to him, directly impacted the individual average income.
To balance his budget, Augusto supplements his income with app-based rides, earning around R$ 150 extra per day. This amount, according to him, covers fuel costs, allowing him to maintain delivery work without immediate financial loss.
Platforms Concentrate Large Part of Partners’ Income
According to Shopee, the company currently has 45,000 partner drivers across Brazil, without disclosing a specific breakdown for Minas Gerais. Tiago Freddi, the company’s head of logistics, states that internal research indicates that 80% of the monthly income of partners comes from the platform.
Furthermore, Freddi notes that many drivers report achievements such as acquiring vehicles or properties, obtaining health insurance, settling debts, and gaining greater access to goods and services. More than half have also invested in their own or their family’s education.
Deliveries also serve as an extra income source for couples like Flora Fonseca, 27, and João Paulo Marsicano, 28. Working together on Mercado Livre for about three months, they earn approximately R$ 2,000 monthly.
The couple opted for shorter routes, with four-hour shifts and average payments between R$ 120 and R$ 280, after assessing that longer routes did not justify the expenses and fatigue. For them, the activity is temporary.
To become a courier, platforms require a valid category B National Driver’s License, a vehicle in good condition, and the issuance of an invoice through CNPJ or MEI. The rules vary by company and are available through the official channels, although some requirements may differ by region.
Kkkkkkkk!!! Comédia, vai achando que é fácil assim. Tô a um ano e alguns meses já, vai achando que é moleza.
Queria saber onde esses “jornalistas” tendenciosos e sensacionalistas do CPG conseguem tanta desinformação assim.
E também de quais fontes e dados esses doentes conseguem tanta mentiraiada e notícias falsas como essa.
Eu trabalho shoppe fazem 9 meses e não sei onde fatura esses 12 mil por mes…até porque entra muita gente achando q é fácil lotando a plataforma chegando ao ponto de não ter rota pra todo mundo…então eu nunca fiz esses 12 mil por mes .. não passei nem perto