Uber Eats in Italy investigated for exploitation of bicycle delivery men
Uber Italy allegedly exploited migrants and asylum seekers in conditions of extreme vulnerability (illustrative image).
Reuters / Denis Balibouse
Text by: RFI Follow
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This Saturday, October 17 is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Chance of the calendar, we learned this week that an official of Uber Italy, a subsidiary of the American colossus, and nine other people, are targeted by an investigation for exploitation of home delivery people and tax offenses.
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According to the indictment, some of the accused would have "
taken advantage of the state of necessity of the workers
", in particular migrants from Mali, Nigeria or even Ivory Coast.
Some bicycle deliverers would not have been hired directly by Uber Eats, but by intermediary companies with methods of remuneration qualified as "exploitation", relates Mario Grasso, head of the Uiltucs union.
“
They were paid by the task, 3 euros per delivery.
Tips were stolen from them and they were punished if they did not shop.
"
Uber Italy, which emphasizes that it is not targeted as a legal person, assures that it wants to combat any form of illegal intermediation.
To better supervise the work of delivery people, a law was passed last year.
However, cyclists do not harbor any hope due to the recent signing of a disputed agreement between the platforms and a union.
“
This agreement will leave the situation largely unchanged.
The law set an hourly rate while the agreement reintroduced payment by task,
”said Mario Grasso.
Demonstrations have been organized in various cities, such as in Bologna on Saturday, where Lorenzo Righi demands, among other things, that delivery men be recognized as employees: “
Currently, if we work often, we manage to earn between five and six euros an hour , even that could go down further with the pirate deal.
While being an employee, one could be paid on a basis of 7 or 8 euros net.
"
The Uiltucs union is preparing with delivery men to challenge the new agreement in court.
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Poverty
Employment and Work
Italy
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