Adam (not his real name) is 23 years old and arrived in Italy three years ago, specifically in Foggia, where for about six months he has been one of the members of the city's rider group, which includes around 40 people, mostly foreigners.

"I make about 12 deliveries a day, traveling about 60 kilometers on my e-bike. I manage to earn between 30 and 40 euros a day, working from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to midnight. During the summer, I've even worked past 3:00 am," Adam told ANSA.

Adam's story parallels that of another compatriot , also with a valid residence permit. Janin (also a fictitious name) is 30, has lived in Italy for five years and has been working as a delivery rider for two. "It's hard to make ends meet," he says. "Sometimes my bike runs out of battery and I can't make a delivery. I pedal for hours a day to manage to bring home about 600 euros at the end of the month. Not much, too little, barely enough to pay the rent for the place I live."

Their story "is emblematic of the work that for many categories still struggles to be fair and equitable, and to represent a concrete possibility for the future," emphasizes Francesco Volpicelli, general secretary of the Nidil (new work identities) of the CGIL Foggia. "These cases are similar to those of almost all the riders in Italy who, in bad weather, under the sun, under the rain, must still work because they have no guarantees."

"Their lives," the union representative continues, "are essentially planned by an algorithm with freelance contracts and collaboration agreements . Suffice it to say that currently each rider earns three euros per delivery. But if their vehicle is stolen during a delivery, or if it breaks down or is stolen, they are responsible for the costs. It's an intolerable situation. For some time now, we at Nidil, in particular, have been denouncing precarious working conditions, low wages, lack of safety (breaks, water), and the algorithmic slavery of the platforms."

(Unioneonline)