The Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office has sent a clear message to the platform economy: the systematic exploitation of workers is a criminal matter. Following a recent investigation into Foodinho (Glovo), Italian authorities have now placed Deliveroo Italy under judicial supervision. This rare legal measure, typically reserved for cases involving “caporalato” (gangmaster-style labor exploitation), follows evidence that couriers were being paid wages up to 90% below the poverty line.
The investigation highlights a structural business model oriented toward maximising profits by exploiting the economic vulnerability of riders, many of whom are foreign nationals. For the first time, prosecutors are also scrutinising the supply chain, asking major retail and fast-food giants that rely on these platforms to prove they are not complicit in these exploitative practices. (....)