The situation of home distributors in Bilbao is "worrying" and "serious", as the study shows. The study has revealed the safety risks of Rider and the legal indefensibility of accidents at work. They work with platforms like Glovo, Just Eat or Uber Eats delivering their demands.

They talked to about 30 riders working in Bilbao for research. They note that most are migrants in the sector: “Many of them work without legal documents, leaving them without occupational protection and without insurance in case of occupational injuries.” Likewise, riders note that “approximately” 70-75% of Basque distributors work without paper.

They stress that workers often work days of up to 16 hours and that those without a document in the event of an occupational accident are afraid to go to the doctor: “They fear being deported.” Experts and trade unionists have stressed that this situation reflects “a critical health and safety problem” in the sector.

Differences between platforms have also been found. For example, Just Eat offers more coverage and social security, as riders receive 100% of their wages when they cannot work by accident.

On the contrary, Glovo and Uber Eats consider autonomous and minimally protect accidents. This has directly influenced increased precariousness. Their workers receive a fixed compensation of EUR 40 per day for 30 days.

Proposals made:

At the political level, actions have been proposed to address this problem. For example, EH spokeswoman Bildu at the City Hall of Bilbao, María del Río Pereda, has suggested measures such as awareness campaigns, urban changes to improve road safety or support the development of alternative platforms cooperatives at the municipal level. In addition, the need for measures to strengthen labour inspection, fully implement the Rider Act and regularize the situation of paperless riders is stressed.

“There is a need to strengthen labour inspection, fully implement the Rider Law and take steps to regularize the situation of paperless riders,” said Del Río Pereda.

Institutional silence

Despite the concerns and improvement proposals raised, businesses and government organisations, the City Council of Bilbao and the Basque Government have not said anything about this situation. This silence raises doubts about the possibility of immediate improvement of the working conditions of the distributors, according to El Salto.