Rider Case: from dream wages in Northern Europe to exploitation in Italy and Spain

First Glovo, now it's Deliveroo Italy's turn. Milan puts the large delivery company under judicial control. The Court of Milan has ordered judicial control for the Italian subsidiary of the multinational, marking a new and drastic chapter in the fight against exploitation within the gig economy.

The Public Prosecutor's Office disputes what it defines as a 'digitized exploitation', a system governed by an algorithm designed to push riders towards exhausting rounds and rhythms. According to the magistrates, the mechanism for assigning deliveries would penalize anyone who tries to slow down or refuse performance, creating a real condition of psychological and

work subjection.

Under the magnifying glass of the prosecutors, salaries, branded as “hungry”, have also run out. Average wages, often based on a piecework system or minimum bonus, would openly violate Article 36 of the Italian Constitution, which guarantees every worker the right to a fair wage proportionate to the quality and quantity of their work. The contested crime is heavy: illegal intermediation and labor exploitation, an accusation that questions the entire technological system on which

the service is based.

Neverheless, the dramatic nature of the Italian situation is not uniformly reflected across the continent, which today appears profoundly fragmented. While Southern and Eastern Europe struggle between precariousness and low compensation, the Scandinavian countries and Benelux present an idyllic picture for those who deliver food and miscellaneous items directly to

their homes.

In Denmark, for instance, what many call a “rider's paradise” has been consolidated: thanks to solid collective agreements, those who work for platforms such as Wolt or Just Eat often enjoy employee status, with hourly earnings ranging between 21€ and 27€ per hour. For a full-time worker, this means a gross monthly salary of up to 2,900€.

Sweden and Germany also follow similar models, albeit with slightly different figures. In the central areas of Stockholm, during peak hours, a rider can earn about 18€ net per hour, while in Germany the increase in the minimum wage has guaranteed a decent base between 12€ and 14€ per hour, bringing the annual income of a full-time employee close to the threshold of 30,000€ gross. Even in the United Kingdom, despite the post-Brexit challenges, the London average stands at 12€ per hour, guaranteeing a higher standard than the Mediterranean one.

The other side of the coin is represented by Spain and Eastern Europe, where the contexts remain very similar to the Italian one. In Spain, despite the introduction of the pioneering “Ley Rider”, which requires the hiring of couriers, earnings remain low and anchored to the national minimum wage, stabilizing at around 1,400€ per month. The situation becomes even more critical moving to Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary: in this area there are minimum salaries in the European Union, with averages that struggle to exceed 800€ per month for a full-time commitment to delivery, confirming that the geography of riders' rights still remains a profoundly uneven map

The contrast between Northern and Southern Europe in the gig economy is stark. Hence, Northern countries like Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and even the UK offer riders solid protections, employee status, and hourly wages that allow for a decent standard of living, reflecting strong labor regulations and collective agreements. In Southern Europe and much of Eastern Europe, including Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary, riders face precarious conditions, low pay, and minimal protections, often tied to national minimum wages. The result is a fragmented European landscape where the same type of work yields dramatically different living standards, highlighting a persistent inequality in workers’ rights across the continent.

Benedetta Zimone