Heading your way - A day in the life of a food delivery worker in Ottawa

Moreno has been working for food delivery apps in Ottawa for the past 3 years, ever since he immigrated from Brazil. The lack of barriers in the hiring process makes this industry attractive to new immigrants, who make up a large part of this specific workforce: anyone with a work permit can download the apps, fill in the forms and start working right away. No resume, no interview. For a person just arriving in a new country, with no friends or family, and often not sure if their professional credentials from their home country will be recognized by local companies, being able to make money from day 1 is a tempting proposition. Some apps have a waiting list, but Uber Eats, the most popular one, accepts everyone right away. Depending on the season, this can also mean too many couriers on the streets, diluting the available work among them; a daunting prospect as apps pay per order delivered. Couriers are hired as independent contractors, not as employees, meaning there’s no guaranteed minimum wage, nor any other kind of worker protection. I followed Moreno during one of his regular work days to see up close what this job really looks like.

Every day, from Monday to Friday, Moreno starts his work day at around 1:00pm, leaving his home in Vanier towards Downtown, where most delivery orders are concentrated. He usually aims to work until around 9:30pm, but that’s not always the case, as the daily goal he set for himself is in dollars, not hours. Moreno zips around the city on an electric bike, a popular choice among delivery workers, especially the ones who are recent immigrants. Not only are ebikes very agile in the chaotic Downtown traffic, they also don’t require a driver’s licence. Winters are dreaded among bikers, of course. All of Moreno’s gear, from his ebike to his battered delivery bag, were acquired out of his own pocket; the companies behind the delivery apps don’t provide any gear. 

The time it takes for each order to be completed is very uncertain, with factors such as distance, traffic, wait time at restaurants and drop off conditions all playing a role. On average, a skilled courier expects to be able to complete about four orders per hour. With orders paying as low as $3 and rarely above $5, depending on distance and time of the day, all couriers heavily rely on tips for their income, adding another layer of financial uncertainty. During slower times of the day, it is common to see couriers waiting for pings outside of restaurants known to have a high volume of orders, such as the McDonald’s on Elgin Street.

As the day progresses, alternating between slower times waiting at sidewalks and frantic hours watching Moreno try to complete his orders as quickly as possible, I too start to feel the toll that this job takes on the body. It is a cold, windy and wet October day, exactly the kind of day that makes you want to stay inside and order some food.