'They do not pay unless you enter their home': female food delivery drivers denounce sexual abuse

Female food delivery drivers have spoken out about experiences of sexual abuse when dropping off food at people’s homes. 

The trade union CCOO found out what was happening after conducting a survey which they presented on Thursday. The Catalan News Agency (ACN) has confirmed their findings after speaking to some employees who had become victims of abuse.

For instance, Ana Mesones, who worked in the sector for six years for companies such as Deliveroo until she quit two months ago, said that "more than 10%" of the time that she entered peoples' homes for work she received inappropriate comments often about explicit sexual intentions.

She also said that when this happened, she felt "unprotected in every sense," because the platforms "always wash their hands" of any complaints coming from their own employees.

Indeed, sources from Glovo told ACN that they have a policy of "zero tolerance to sexual abuse or discrimination," but did not clarify what steps are followed to protect their drivers. Deliveroo and Uber Eats declined commenting.

Mesones explained that when completing some orders, sometimes she would be welcomed by men saying: "Why don’t you come in and have a beer with me?"