In Italy, the deliverers of meals ordered online or by phone, at lunchtime or in the evening, by Vespa or bicycle, are called "riders". They already represent a large employment group in terms of numbers. For the first time in Italy, the Regional Court of Palermo recognised the worker status of such a "rider", with the result that the driver had to be employed on a permanent basis by the multinational company with which he was employed. That company had previously excluded him from the platform from which he was receiving his orders.

The judgement from Palermo is likely to change the history of the working world in the gig economy. The ruling goes beyond that already decided in early 2020 in the Court of Cassation's ruling no. 1663/2020, which provided a number of protective measures for riders, but did not also establish worker status.

The Court of Palermo ordered the reinstatement of the worker with a full-time contract of indefinite duration. Furthermore, the worker must be paid an hourly wage and not a piece-rate. (Source: ansa news of 23 November 2020).