More than 100 delivery riders cycled through central Milan on Tuesday evening, protesting a municipal ban on deliveries during peak heat that they say severely penalises their earnings without offering financial compensation. The demonstration, organised by Nidil CGIL, ended in Largo Cairoli with a petition drive supporting broader labour rights legislation.
The Milan action followed strikes on Wednesday across multiple Italian cities, as riders for Glovo and Deliveroo halted evening work after authorities limited bicycle deliveries between 12:30 and 16:00 until late September. Workers argue that, as formally self-employed contractors, they lack access to social safety nets during forced stoppages. Just Eat riders did not join, citing existing protections.
The stoppages coincide with red heat alerts across 15 Italian cities, with Sardinia approaching 45°C. Research by the European Trade Union Institute estimates 130 million workers face workplace heat stress annually. Unions and platform representatives are scheduled to meet Labour Ministry officials in Rome on Thursday to discuss protections.