Although binding-flexibility potentially affects all platform workers, migrants face additional burdens due to the temporal borders imposed by visa and residence permits. As Gul. stated, «[with my student visa] I can’t do any work I like, so Glovo is the best job for students». As a matter of fact, in Italy residence permits for studying impose a weekly working limit of 20 hours for standard employment. The binding aspect of the student visa appeared also within the food delivery sector, channelling the working possibility of extra-EU students: «Deliveroo doesn’t give students an account because I am not from Italy. I am a resident in Pakistan, and my “permesso di soggiorno” is only for “studio”. Glovo is the only company that gives students an account and offers the chance to work. Deliveroo, on the other hand, prefers people who have a “permesso di soggiorno per lavoro”. This is why I applied for Glovo, and they accepted me» (student-walker Sha). This was a factor that pushed many students to work as walker in the old town, instead of in the mainland.
6 Conclusions
The case study of Venice’s old town served as a unique focal point for an in-depth examination of the digitalised food delivery service, particularly as it has recently entered this part of the city with distinct features, notably the use of walkers or runners instead of riders. While platform work presents an opportunity for marginalised individuals and migrants to supplement their income due to its low entry barriers, closer scrutiny reveals several limitations on the autonomy of walkers in managing their work and personal schedules. This tension arises from several factors: the absence of a free log-in option, the formal segregation imposed by Glovo between the mainland and the historic centre, which restricts walkers from working as riders, the elimination of the guaranteed payment of 7 euros per hour, and the language barrier in Italian. This has led to varied outcomes concerning the perceived flexibility of the work, leaning more towards a notion of “binding-flexibility”.
4 DELIVERING IN THE LAGOON. CRITICAL REFLECTIONS
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