Food delivery company Glovo has caused outrage in Italy by offering gig workers bonuses for working in a blistering heatwave, forcing it to “temporarily deactivate” the scheme.

In a message to their riders in Italy earlier this week, Glovo said it would pay bonuses ranging from 2 to 8 per cent, depending on the heat, for deliveries made in temperatures of more than 32C. Payment was to be made in mid-September.

It said the extra money was to help the riders — many of them migrant workers from South Asia and Africa — to buy water, sunscreen and rehydration salts. The offer came as many parts of Italy banned physical labour during peak heat hours…

… Glovo said on Thursday that it had temporarily paused the scheme…

It also said it was suspending its afternoon services in the northern Piedmont region to comply with a local order.

Glovo had promised riders a 2 per cent bonus for deliveries in temperatures of between 32C and 36C, 6 per cent for between 36C and 40C, and an 8 per cent bonus if riders deliver when temperatures exceed 40C…

Italian labour unions criticised the scheme…

Earlier this week, rival food delivery platform Just Eat temporarily suspended deliveries in several parts of Belgium because of extreme temperatures…