The service starts next week, for now only in the Lisbon region. The novelty arises after a similar application has been suspended because it is considered discriminatory.
Uber announced the launch of a new transport service in the Lisbon region that will allow passengers to choose travel only with female drivers. The functionality, called Women DriversIt will be available from next week, being a response to the growing demand for safer and more comfortable mobility solutions for women.
According to the company, the service will be accessible every day of the week, without any additional costalthough their availability depends on the number of active female drivers on the platform. This means that, at certain times, there may be a shortage of conductors or waiting times higher than usual.
According to recent data from the Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT), women represent only 9.5% Of the 38 549 TV drivers in Portugal, a number that has hardly changed since March. For Uber, this initiative aims precisely to encourage female participation in the sector. “This functionality represents an opportunity for more women to feel motivated to drive with Uber,” says Francisco Vilaça, Uber Director-General in Portugal.
Uber has already implemented this service in other countries such as France, Poland, Germany, South Africa, Argentina and Australia. In Portugal, this bet comes after the controversy around Pinker, a TV Platform that also offered services exclusively for women. The company saw its activity, based on article 7 of Law No. 45/2018, which in access to TVDE services for reasons of sex, nationality or ethnic origin.
To circumvent the legislation, the former Pinker announced the launch of a new applicationa Floowwho will accept both men and women, but with reinforced security rules, including the requirement of documentation and collaboration with authorities in case of improper conduct. However, Floow is not yet licensed to operate in the market, according to the IMT website.
