Delivery drivers working for the Finnish company Wolt returned to work on Friday after a week-long strike over working conditions, despite no agreement being reached with the company, with some now considering taking the case to the labour court.
“Returning to work is not a sign of satisfaction, it’s a survival tactic,” one driver told the Cyprus Mail.
The driver said the group intends to wait until Monday before deciding whether to take the matter to the labour court.
He added that drivers had resumed work out of necessity to make ends meet, even though recent talks with Wolt and Peo failed to produce results.
“I got my water bill today, it was €94. We all have bills to pay and we need to at least make some earnings,” he said. “With rent and utility bills due, many couriers have no choice but to accept these lower rates temporarily to avoid financial ruin.”
Despite returning to work, drivers say conditions remain precarious.
According to several drivers the Cyprus Mail spoke to earlier this week, a pay cut introduced around two to three months ago has significantly affected their income and left many struggling to make a profit.
“We aren’t getting paid what we used to and it’s making it hard to stay,” one driver said.
“Moving from a base of €1.10 per delivery to a scenario where a four-kilometre trip pays only €2.20 effectively reduces the rate to around €0.50 per kilometre,” he added.
He said operating costs, including fuel, insurance, maintenance and scooter leasing, leave many drivers with barely any profit.
Drivers held talks with Wolt and Peo in Limassol and Nicosia throughout the week, presenting three key demands, but said there was no progress from the company’s side.
The first demand concerns enforcing a 20-hour work limit for student drivers, in line with Cypriot legislation, which they claim they are currently forced to exceed.
Secondly, the drivers demanded the introduction of a facial recognition feature on the platform.
“This is because many people create profiles and rent their accounts to others for money. If face ID is introduced, only genuine users will be able to work,” the driver said.
Drivers explained that some individuals lease their profiles to others, who then carry out deliveries under those accounts without bearing the associated costs.
The third demand relates to drivers whose profiles were allegedly blocked after participating in the strike. According to information obtained by the Cyprus Mail on Friday evening, these drivers remain unable to access the platform.
Click here to change your cookie preferences