Italian government stalls rider fund talks amid heat‑related delivery bans

A ministerial meeting with the unions NIdiL‑CGIL, FeLSA‑CISL, UIL‑Temp and Confcommercio ended without any agreement on measures for gig‑economy riders of Glovo and Deliveroo. The unions pressed for a compensation fund, financed by the delivery platforms, to cover lost income when regional anti‑heat orders force riders to stop working during the hottest hours. Riders, many of whom are migrants classified as self‑employed, are excluded from unemployment benefits and other social protections.

The Ministry of Labour sent only technical staff and postponed further discussion, leaving the proposal for a fund and broader recognition of riders as employees unresolved. The dispute follows recent protests in Milan, Bologna, Florence and Turin, and follows the suspension of negotiations on a national food‑delivery contract. Unions also highlighted insufficient inspection capacity to enforce heat‑related work bans and warned of rising health risks for workers exposed to extreme temperatures.