Delivering in the Lagoon. Critical Reflections on the Flexibility of Platformised Food Delivery in Venice
Giorgio Pirina
1 Introduction
In recent years, the gig economy has emerged as a transformative force in urban labour markets, driven by digital platforms that promise flexibility and autonomy for workers. The concept of “uberisation”, which involves breaking down work into small, discrete tasks using digital platforms, has emerged in this context. This paper investigates the intricate dynamics of gig work, focusing on the experiences of migrant students employed as walkers for food delivery services like Glovo in Venice, Italy. Central to this exploration are the concepts of “algochronos” and “binding-flexibility”, which together illuminate the nuanced realities of algorithmically managed work. The notion of algochronos integrates algorithmic management with the temporal aspects of gig work, highlighting how digital platforms exert control over workers’ schedules, tasks and performance metrics. This concept draws on Thompson’s (1967) reflections on time and work discipline, Lefebvrian’s rhythmanalysis (2004), as well as contemporary studies on the impact of algorithmic management on labour practices.
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<sub>G.</sub> <sub>Pirina</sub> <sub>(</sub>B<sub>)</sub>
Department of Sociology and Business Law, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
e-mail: giorgio.pirina2@unibo.it
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025 F. Della Puppa et al. (eds.), Migrant Labour in the Gig Economy, Dynamics of Virtual Work, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-91262-7\_4
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