Spain's delivery workers risk health for little profit

coronavirus lockdown in Spain has exposed plight of some of country's most vulnerable workers - members of so-called gig ecomy who only get paid if work comes ir way. Bikers delivering takeaway meals amid lockdown say y fear for ir health, but can't afford to stop working.

While most people stay off streets of Barcelona, dozens of bikers were waiting outside restaurants by Sagra Familia cadral on Tuesday night.

Many were waiting for a food delivery order to come up on ir phones.

23-year-old Guillermo, from Colombia, who declined to give his last name fearing reprisal by delivery app he works with, spoke about his precarious working conditions.

Guillermo always wears a surgical mask and gloves, but still fears getting infected with new coronavirus as he delivers food to residents hunkered at home under a state of emergency.

Riders usually charge between four aper order, but must pay taxes as automous workers, an insurance required by delivery platforms and maintenance of vehicles y use to deliver, usually a motorbike, bicycle or scooter.

While some customers track Guillermo's movements through Deliveroo app and wait for him outside ir buildings so he doens't have to enter ir homes, many do t.

Guillermo is w using his elbows to ring door bells and call elevators. He also tries to drop meals a meter away from his clients, but he still risks catching virus while working.

food delivery business is t as profitable as he expected it to be in a city under lockdown, and Guillermo wonders if he is risking too much for little in return.

Despite being allowed to keep ir kitchens open for delivery orders only, majority of restaurants in Barcelona have shut down completely, limiting orders on popular food apps like Glovo, Uber Eats and Deliveroo.

But if Guillermo were to stay at home for a few days, company's app algorithm would register his absence and put him at end of queue of riders waiting to get deliveries assigned.

Despite working through lockdown, Guillermo said money he is making on Deliveroo se days barely covers costs that come with being an automous worker in Spain.

"I don't kw how this will end," he said before riding off on his bike to ar restaurant in hope of getting an order.