Quick-Commerce Social Externalities and Delivery Workers' Health

The Quick-commerce experienced significant growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instantaneous deliveries enabled consumers to receive products with remarkable speed, a convenience to which they became accustomed. Quick-Commerce thus successfully offered consumers rapid and convenient delivery services. However, it is crucial to closely examine the working conditions of quick-commerce delivery personnel to better understand the occupational risks inherent in this profession. In this chapter, we aim to provide a psychosocial interpretation of the risks encountered by delivery drivers, focusing on their impacts on physical and mental health. Our theoretical and empirical investigation has highlighted salient issues concerning the delivery profession, including excessive physical and mental workload. We also stressed the importance of establishing a regulatory framework capable of offering decent work to delivery drivers, in compliance with the labor code, and of encouraging the formation of work collectives capable of strengthening solidarity and developing collective know-how.