Government in Peru sidelines food delivery platforms as lockdowns ease up

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Contxto – Good news for restaurants in Peru! As of May, they’re authorized by the government to carry out food deliveries after having been put into mandatory quarantine (alongside the general population).

However, their deliverers must follow the necessary hygiene and sanitation requirements. The bad news is Rappi and UberEats’ platforms were excluded.

In other words, restaurants that have their own delivery staff can offer takeout to Peruvian consumers. Those that use delivery marketplaces to get the job are not allowed to do so.

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That’s basically detrimental for businesses that don’t have the resources to afford their own in-house deliverers. Meanwhile, rappitenderos and other deliverers lose an additional source of income in these complex economic circumstances.

Food delivery startups versus Peruvian government

Usually, Colombia or Mexico are at the forefront of these government-created obstacles to startups. But today, it’s Peru for a change.

The government in Lima has determined that it must be so due to the uncertainty in their compliance with sanitary protocols.

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“These applications are not regulated in the country,” stated Rocío Barrios, Peru’s Minister of Production. “We must assume some restrictions and these [marketplace] formats are under no regulation, they don’t assure compliance with the protocols because there’s no office here to sanction in case of noncompliance.”

Of course, in response, marketplace platforms have come forward to reassure authorities that their platforms are still suspended, so no deliverers can actually sign in. And they all hope the government gives them its good blessings to operate soon.

One can understand the government’s precaution when it comes to sanitation. But it may come at a significant cost to the deliverers and small businesses that rely on these platforms.

Wanna hear more? We recommend you listen to the following podcast episode: Logística latina. You can find the time stamp available in the description.

Related articles: Tech and startups from Peru!

-ML