Digital Work in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic, the Case of Delivery Riders in Bogotá: I'd Rather Work with COVID than Starve

Abstract

Introduction: The gig economy is an expanding economic model characterized by atypical employment relationship particularly in work mediated by digital platforms. In Colombia, a delivery platform business has emerged, facilitating interactions between customers, restaurants and riders through an app. While this model promotes flexibility, autonomy, and income diversification, it often conceals underlying forms of exploitation. Objective: This research aimed to understand the perceptions and experiences of delivery riders working for digital platforms regarding their working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bogotá, D. C., Colombia. Methodology: We conducted ethnographic research focused on digital environments, observing and engaging with delivery rider communities on Facebook and WhatsApp. Results: The study revealed a worsening of already precarious working conditions and their effects on the health and quality of life of delivery riders. These impacts were reflected in riders’ perceptions of disease, the (in)visibility of their role as workers, the challenging material living conditions during the pandemic, and the lack of adequate bio-protection measures to which they were subjected. Conclusions: This paper provides empirical evidence that highlights the human dimension of platform-based delivery work within a syndemic context. It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive policies that articulate economic development with social and labor protection suited to the emerging forms of digital labor.