"Egypt gig economy workers face rough ride" 24 April 2022

Egypt's digital gig economy is growing, as economic pressures push more of its key demographi...into the work-on-demand model.

Engineer Mohamed Sherif, 37, joined online food ordering company Talabat as a bicycle courier in Alexandria three months ago because he couldn't find a job...

In early April, Talabat couriers called a two-day strike to demand higher wages, with only a fraction of the 12,000 workforce joining...

Couriers also put their lives at risk as they navigate the chaotic streets of Cairo, where traffic rules are more than often disrespected and accidents happen almost daily.

Talabat Egypt's public affairs head Asmaa Khalil denied claims made by some couriers that they have no adequate insurance to protect them.

According to her, Talabat pays into accident and life insurance, but the schemes are handled by external contractors that recruit and manage their couriers.

...Courier Sherif criticised this method, calling it a way by employers "to get rid of the dirty work"....

"Employment law, tax law, social security, it's all unclear how the gig economy is supposed to behave" [Omar] Ramadan said.