Online food ordering

Europe moved a step closer to giving so-called gig economy workers at online platforms such as Uber and Wolt greater social and labour rights on Monday, although companies said little would change under the watered-down rules.

Europe's attempt to give workers at Uber, Deliveroo and other online platforms more social and labor rights failed a second time after Greece and three other countries abstained from voting on the watered-down political deal.

European Union lawmakers provisionally agreed on Wednesday on a bill aimed at giving workers at online companies such as Uber and Deliveroo employee benefits, which if adopted would be a global first.

The new rules will prevent workers from being wrongfully classified as self-employed, and therefore not eligible for benefits, by introducing "presumption of employment".

Due to the extremely high temperatures, all outdoor work, including delivery services, is prohibited on Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Ministry of Labor has also stated that electronic platforms, such as efood and Wolt, are not allowed to accept delivery orders during these hours.

Home delivery grocery app Getir has said it will implement a widespread redundancy plan that unions say will involve cutting 1,560 jobs as it withdraws from the Spanish market.

The move came just 10 days after the Turkish grocery delivery firm said it was pulling out of the French market, citing complex legal regulations.

The Trade Union of Food Delivery Couriers staged a two-hour work stoppage on 12 May after delivery companies Wolt and Glovo refused to recognise the union as a social partner or enter talks on a collective bargaining agreement.

Ljubljana – The Mladi Plus youth trade union, which has been pushing for improved working conditions at food delivery companies Wolt and Glovo, intervened in Ljubljana on Friday as Wolt started tagging its couriers to curb traffic violations. Opposition to the tagging was also announced by Labour Minister Luka Mesec.

Türkiye's leading online delivery application Yemeksepeti successfully delivered an order to a boat in the Bosporus with a drone, a first for the company.

"This project is important for Yemeksepeti, which aims to make deliveries to distant locations," the company said in a statement.

A Turkish regulator is planning to take actions to improve the work conditions of delivery workers and couriers who have been protesting against low wages, demanding wider rights and benefits.

Istanbul-based Getir, the pioneer of ultra-fast grocery delivery business, announced yesterday that it started serving customers in New York.

The company entered the U.S. market with Chicago last month. It is planning to expand its service to Boston soon.