Delivery firm Glovo to hire self-employed workers as company staff

Delivery company Glovo will hire its workers in Spain as company employees rather than self-employed, the Barcelona-based firm announced Monday. 

The new model should take a few weeks to be implemented in more than 900 cities, during which the current workers would be registered with social security.  

The delivery company said they would accompany this change with a "conversation table" with the social agents, open for other operators of the sector to follow and "join the agreements".  

However, the company hasn't been able to ensure that all current delivery workers would be hired, according to newspaper La Vanguardia.  

This announcement comes amidst a situation of judicial turmoil for the company, accused of forcing workers to freelance to become delivery "riders." 

This constitutes a crime against worker's rights in Spain, and there is a Supreme Court ruling that require the hiring of these employees.  

Glovo's CEO, Oscar Pierre, will testify on December 3 as part of the investigation.

Union mistrusts announcement

The union Riders x Derechos [Riders for Rights] has expressed its distrust of Glovo's announcement, emphasizing the company's "criminal history."

In a press release, the union recalls that a law of 2021, which protects their rights, has been "ignored with impunity."

The organization also insists that it is "no coincidence" that the announcement comes the day before Pierre's testifies in court.