Glovo food delivery couriers in Morocco protest 'slave-like' working conditions

Glovo's food delivery couriers lined up at Casablanca's streets this week to launch a two-day strike against meagre pay and 'slave-like' working conditions under the Spanish-owned delivery platform.

Wearing the company's yellow jackets, workers gathered outside Glovo's headquarters on Monday afternoon, chanting "Boycott Glovo!" and holding banners stating their demands. 

Backed by the Moroccan Labour Union (UMT), the action marked the latest clash between gig workers and one of North Africa's fastest-growing delivery services.

Couriers argue their six dirham (around $0.66) per four-kilometres delivery pay is inadequate, failing to cover fuel and maintenance. 

"They treat us like slaves", said Mohamed Ait Sebane, a protesting courier. 

"They underpay us, put our lives at risk, and refuse to even sit down and negotiate with us," Ait Sebane added, who also said his account had been suspended without explanation.

Many couriers accuse the company of suspending accounts without notice or explanation, leaving them unable to work.

During the protest, several riders wore masks and preferred not to give their full names to the press, fearing any punitive measures from the company.

Couriers said they also cover their own expenses, including motorbike upkeep, phone plans, and insurance, while facing penalties for delays. 

Glovo, which recruits more than 5,500 across the country, deducts 10 dirhams ($1) an hour if a delivery is late, according to riders, cutting further into already low earnings.

In Morocco, Glovo and its partners generated an economic value of more than $292 million in 2023 alone through their platform activities. 

Strikers are calling for higher bonuses on night shifts, double pay on holidays, and compensation for cancelled orders.

They also oppose Glovo's "grouping" system, which bundles deliveries and, they say, forces riders to rush across cities at unsafe speeds.

Glovo Morocco has not commented on the strike.

The protest has renewed debate over Glovo's presence in Morocco.

Last year, the company apologised after its app displayed Western Sahara as a separate territory, prompting public anger.

This year, it reached a deal with Morocco's Competition Council to avoid prosecution, agreeing to drop exclusivity clauses with restaurants, reduce commissions, and make its algorithms more transparent.

However, workers argue that little has changed.

Glovo currently operates in 38 Moroccan cities, partnering with thousands of restaurants, while riders claim they remain under pressure from hidden scoring systems that encourage them to take risks.

Research by AlgorithmWatch found that Glovo's algorithms rank couriers on speed and efficiency, encouraging unsafe practices such as speeding and ignoring traffic rules. 

A 2023 field study also reported riders working long hours in poor conditions to meet demand and maintain their rankings.

In Italy, Glovo's subsidiary Foodinho was fined $3 million in 2021 for a lack of transparency in its algorithmic management of riders.

Morocco, which has not legalised ride-hailing services such as Uber, is facing growing challenges in regulating food delivery platforms.

"Our strike is also a warning to other food delivery services expanding in Morocco. We are not slaves; you cannot step on us. We won't be silent," said Ait Sebane.