In April 2026, human rights organisation Equidem released a report analysing the working conditions of migrant delivery riders in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The findings are based on interviews with 108 migrant delivery riders from Bangladesh, Cameroon, India, Kenya, Nepal, and Pakistan.

The report includes allegations of poor working conditions for riders working for Careem (part of Uber), HungerStation and Talabat (both part of Delivery Hero), and Deliveroo (part of DoorDash). Almost all interviewed workers (99%) were hired through third-party logistics firms (3PLs). The report highlights how workers are legally bound to the 3PLs due to the use of the Kafala system, which the report says ‘fosters a climate of coercion’.

Equidem wrote to Delivery Hero, HungerStation, Talabat, DoorDash, Deliveroo, Uber and Careem prior to publication. Responses from Delivery Hero (including on behalf of HungerStation), Talabat and Deliveroo can be read in the report’s Appendix.

The report finds 42% of riders reported working in conditions of forced labour. Workers were subjected to a range of abuses, including passport confiscation (45% of interviewees), recruitment fee charging (70%), unfair contracting practices (25%), injuries from traffic accidents (9%), a lack of access to adequate nutrition (15%), and other violations.

The report calls on the multinational platforms to ‘end debt-inducing recruitment practices, guarantee fair pay and safe working conditions, enforce heat protections, and publicly report on subcontractor practices, OSH data, and algorithmic decision-making’. The authors also emphasise that companies must engage directly with worker organisations to ensure riders’ rights are respected. The report makes several recommendations to these companies across the immediate, short, medium and long term, ranging from ceasing illegal wage deductions, to subjecting 3PLs to rigorous due diligence standards and transitioning to direct employment.