The lack of regulation of the activity of mobility app drivers in Angola continues to raise concerns among experts, who highlight the shortcomings in tax control and protection of professionals in the sector. The prevalent informality has harmed the Angolan State, which faces difficulties in collecting taxes, given that drivers do not issue invoices or contribute to taxes related to the activity.
According to a taxation expert in an interview with the weekly Expansão, he reiterates that “tax evasion in this activity is high, which is also not easy to control, since tax evasion is normalized, in addition to it being an unregulated activity“This reality is comparable to that of conventional 'blue and white' taxis, which also operate informally, contributing to a scenario of widespread tax mismanagement.
According to sources from the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), the work of app-based drivers is still largely marginalized, with few or almost no professionals registered in the system. The lack of official recognition for the category worsens the precariousness faced by these workers.
BUT: Lack of regulation in mobility applications fuels informality in Angola
Attempts at change, however, have already begun to emerge. Yango, one of the main mobility apps in Angola, has entered into a partnership with the INSS, which includes raising awareness among drivers and deducting 3% of bonuses awarded for meeting targets for social security payments. Despite the progress, the measure does not yet cover all drivers, as it depends on achieving the stipulated targets.
Alvaro de Veciana, CEO of Heetch, another app in the sector, emphasized the need for comprehensive regulation. “Future regulation must have the ambition of granting professional licenses to drivers, who are often marginalized, and registering them with the INSS. It must guarantee legal security to operators, customers and drivers,” he told the newspaper in 2023 Expansion.
Regularizing the sector is seen as essential to guarantee basic rights to drivers, increase tax collection and ensure a safer and more efficient operation for everyone involved.
