Milan City Council issues an order to protect delivery riders from the heat

In Milan, a municipal by-law aims to protect delivery riders from heatwaves by reducing or suspending the allocation of deliveries between 12.30 pm and 4.00 pm – the period when temperatures peak. The measure comes into effect today and remains in force until 23 September; it reinforces the regional by-law of 9 June by extending its scope to include workers on digital delivery platforms. The by-law stipulates that entities which organise, manage, allocate or act as intermediaries for home delivery services via digital platforms using cycle couriers on bicycles, as clients, must not only promptly inform their workers of daily risk levels but also reduce or suspend the allocation of deliveries between 12.30 pm and 4 pm, by automatically halting or slowing down the allocation algorithm. Companies must therefore prioritise the performance of duties during the cooler hours of the day; furthermore, provision must be made for access to water, breaks and shaded or rest areas along the routes of operation on critical days. Finally, companies must ensure that no incentives or bonuses are linked to the speed or number of deliveries on high-risk days and during high-risk time slots.