Migrant Riders and the Racialised Labour Market: On-Demand Work and Resistance in the Outskirts of Venice

This research examines the structural centrality of migrant labour in the on-demand digital platform economy, with a focus on Mestre and Marghera in the Venice metropolitan area. Through extensive fieldwork involving migrant workers employed by on demand digital platforms, the study uncovers highly exploitative working conditions and reflects on the impact of this form of employment on the every daily lives of migrant workers.

Migrants, predominantly from South Asia and making up the majority of the workforce on these platforms, face significant challenges exacerbated by migration-related pressures. One key factor is the so-called “migrant tax”—the added financial burden of supporting extended families often left behind in their countries of origin. This pressure compels workers to combine on demand platform labour with other low-wage jobs. The flexibility of working hours and the formally autonomous nature of platform work enable migrant workers to stretch their workday far beyond the standard eight-hour shift. This indefinite extension of the workday significantly disrupts the balance between work and personal life.

Drawing on qualitative interviews and ethnographic observations, the study explores the working conditions, motivations, and everyday experiences of migrant workers in the outskirts of Venice. The findings reveal how on-demand platforms, operating in cities characterized by the dominance of tourism industry, are heavily dependent on migrant labour to sustain their operations.

Migrant workers, however, endure persistent challenges, including job insecurity, low wages, lack of social protections, and vulnerability to crime. The research also delves into everyday acts of resistance and solidarity within the migrant worker community. It highlights instances of collective action, showcasing the diverse demands, hopes, and discontent that shape their resistance.