When it's too hot to deliver food in Italy

Food delivery riders spend their workdays dodging all kinds of hazards. They race through traffic, forever on deadline to deliver poke bowls and pizzas for only a few euros per ride.

- Emma Bubola and Monika Cvorak

ROME -

But this summer in Europe, successive heatwaves added to the challenges that already make them some of the gig economy's most vulnerable workers.

The riders have been on the front lines, dripping with sweat as they cycle on scorching asphalt, struggling to stay hydrated and to keep the phones that are key to their business working in the heat.

And in some places, like Rome, they suffered twice: first from cycling in searing temperatures, then by not being allowed to do so, as concerned officials banned work during the hottest hours of the hottest days.

For the moment, the worst of the heat in Rome has ebbed, but temperatures are expected to rise again this coming week in other cities, like Palermo, Sicily.

And the problem of more severe heat seems unlikely to go away any time soon as the planet warms.

In recent weeks, we spoke to several riders, some in Rome and some in Palermo, where outdoor work was allowed to continue unabated.

The riders, many of whom in Rome are not native Italians, often work freelance, with no paid vacation or sick days.

In 2025, that included no pay for freelancers during the government-mandated heat breaks. So for many of them, a rule meant to protect their health undercut their livelihoods.

In Rome since early July, Italy's National Research Council has deemed more than 30 days "high risk" for outdoor workers, including construction workers.

On those days, delivery riders had to stop work during the lunch rush, from 12.30pm to 4pm, leaving them to rely mostly on dinner deliveries.