# Glovo labor disputes in Italy and Spain

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/glovo-labor-disputes-in-italy-and-spain
> Updated: 2026-09-10T23:28:40.000Z. Sources: 22. Developments: 3.

Glovo continues to face significant legal and regulatory challenges regarding its employment models and worker protections in Southern Europe.

In Italy, the Turin Labor Court issued a landmark ruling determining that time spent by delivery riders waiting for orders constitutes active working hours that must be remunerated. The court recognized a former rider, working via the platform managed by Foodinho srl, as a full-time employee with an indefinite contract rather than an independent contractor. The ruling ordered the company to reinstate the worker, who had been dismissed via email, and to pay backdated wages and social security contributions. The court noted that the platform’s algorithm does not merely connect parties but “actively assigns tasks, sets compensation, and monitors movements in real time.” The Unione Sindacale di Base (Usb) union intends to present this ruling to the Chamber of Deputies' Labor Commission to establish it as a legal precedent for the sector.

In Spain, the High Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands upheld labor inspections regarding the use of ‘false self-employed’ workers, validating potential fines exceeding six million euros. The company’s attempts to annul these inspections on the grounds that they violated its right to defense were dismissed, aligning with the ‘Ley Rider’ regulation. Additionally, the Labor Inspectorate in Barcelona has proposed sanctions for failing to protect workers during a red heat alert on July 8, when temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius. Despite internal protocols to suspend services for cyclists and motorcyclists during such alerts, operational directors reportedly kept the application active, resulting in a serious breach of occupational risk prevention regulations.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-10: Glovo ordered to pay riders for waiting time by Turin court

A Turin court ruled that Glovo riders must be paid for waiting time and recognized a former rider as a full-time employee, marking a significant legal shift for the gig economy in Italy.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/glovo-ordered-to-pay-riders-for-waiting-time-by-turin-court

### 2026-08-31: Glovo faces labor sanctions and legal setbacks in Spain

Glovo faces legal setbacks in Spain as courts uphold labor inspections regarding the ‘Ley Rider’ and the company faces sanctions for failing to suspend deliveries during a record-breaking heatwave in Barcelona.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/glovo-faces-potential-multi-million-euro-fines-in-balearic-islands

### 2026-08-26: Glovo faces legal rulings over rider safety and pay in Italy

Glovo faces legal mandates in Italy to provide safety equipment for riders and investigations into an algorithm that allegedly fails to pay for significant portions of workers' time.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-courts-and-prosecutors-challenge-glovo-over-rider-rights

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Cite as: Glovo labor disputes in Italy and Spain. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/glovo-labor-disputes-in-italy-and-spain