Activist group Afoa on Tuesday accused the authorities of not doing enough to halt what they described as a “climate of tension” and threats of “thugs” experienced by Wolt delivery drivers currently on strike over working conditions.

“The creation of a climate of tension and threats by thugs since the first day of the strike, with the tolerance and collusion of the authorities, against the riders and solidarity activists, reveals both the conditions under which these workers begin their struggle as well as the social perception of them as modern-day slaves,” the group said.

Afoa’s statement comes as Wolt drivers continue a strike, which began on Friday, with protests over working conditions held in Nicosia and Limassol.

“They earn mere crumbs for their labour. Their employment status is perhaps one of the most precarious and dangerous we encounter in the Cypriot labour market,” the group said.

Delivery drivers speaking to the Cyprus Mail at the protest in Nicosia on Monday said that the third-party company that employs them takes a 33 per cent share of their wage, leaving them with as little as €2.49 for a 9.6km delivery that takes approximately 20 minutes one way.

For up to four kilometres they are giving us €1.50 per delivery, one of the workers said.

He said that although most of them work for Wolt via a third party-company, the latter cannot increase their salaries, which is why their protest is directed directly towards the delivery service.

Another driver told the Cyprus Mail that the wages had in fact been decreased since he started working for Wolt around two years ago, with amount paid for waiting reduced in addition to that paid for distance travelled.

“We used to get one euro for ten minutes and two for twenty and so on. Now, no matter how long we wait for the order at the restaurant, its only 75 cents,” he said.

“The expenses of their work, such as fuel and vehicles, are borne by the workers themselves. At the same time, for several years now, delivery riders have been targets of racist gangs that assault them and steal their money and vehicles,” Afoa said.

Around six activists from several political groups participated in Monday’s strike to show solidarity with the approximately 100 Wolt drivers gathered outside the company’s headquarters in Nicosia.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail, they accused the authorities and individuals involved with Wolt of intimidation attempts and inappropriate use of force in at least one incident of which the Cyprus Mail has seen footage.

In the footage, one of the activists appears to be dragged out of the protest by several police officers.

While the activist in question did not wish to speak to the Cyprus Mail, another said “one of [us] tried to take a picture of a person lurking around and that person then tried to tell him to stop and to take the phone and grabbed him”.

According to the activist, the person then asked the “lurker” whether he was a member of the police, to which he responded that he could “do whatever I want.”

The police then intervened and allegedly did not remove the “lurker” from the scene nor the activist, who had allegedly had his arm grabbed “tightly”, leading to another activist falling onto the ground and hitting their head.

The activist was then taken to the bakery opposite of the Wolt HQ, where the police had been stationed, and was reportedly asked to delete any pictures.

In an attempt to deescalate, the authorities and activists agreed that no further pictures would be taken, but the latter claimed the authorities and Wolt management at the scene continued to take pictures of the drivers, leading to around 80 of their accounts being deleted.

The drivers are demanding higher pay and will remain on strike until Friday.

Asked how they will cope with the loss of money they will suffer from the strike, the drivers seem resigned. “You need to make sacrifices,” one said.

The Cyprus Mail has asked Wolt management for comment.