Food delivery workers in Cyprus have described alleged attacks involving stones, oranges and lemons, physical assaults, thefts and threats with knives, as well as racist abuse linked to their origins and skin colour.
Speaking to journalist Irene Artaka on Sigma TV’s programme Mesimeri kai Kati, two delivery workers, Abdul and Syed, described experiences that they said had left them feeling frightened and unsafe while carrying out orders.
Syed also alleged that he had been robbed at knifepoint while delivering an order, losing the food delivery, his mobile phone and his money.
“I was so scared that I took a friend with me”
Abdul said he chose to work as a delivery driver because the job allows him to combine employment with his college studies. Although he appreciates having a job, he said he still questions whether delivery work is what he really wants to do.
“I have to survive, though, so it is an option for me,” he said, describing the difficult circumstances he faces.
He spoke about the fear he experiences during night deliveries. The previous day, he said, he had worked until 2am. When he received an order after midnight, he was so frightened that he decided to take a friend with him to make deliveries together.
Abdul said groups of young people often gather at night, particularly at weekends, increasing his anxiety while travelling through the streets.
He alleged that delivery workers have repeatedly been targeted by people throwing oranges, stones and soft drink cans at them.
“I feel unsafe. I could be going about my business on the road and suddenly something could hit me,” he said, explaining that he feared such incidents could escalate and put his physical safety at risk.
He described one incident in which more than 10 people allegedly attacked him by throwing oranges. He decided to leave rather than confront them, fearing they might turn on him if he stopped.
According to Abdul, the individuals were wearing black clothing and hoods and were standing in dark areas, making it impossible for him to identify their faces.
He appealed to the public to treat delivery workers with respect, stressing that they were simply trying to earn a living. Many, he added, were also studying in Cyprus and supporting families in their home countries.
Delivery worker proposes emergency SOS button
Abdul also called for an emergency response system for delivery workers, suggesting that a dedicated SOS button could help protect them when they are threatened or attacked.
He proposed that pressing the button should immediately alert the delivery platform the worker is using, as well as the police or another relevant authority, allowing a rapid response.
Such a system, he argued, could help protect workers before a dangerous situation escalates, whether an incident occurs during the day or at night.
“They throw coffee and money in my face”
Syed described what he said were repeated incidents of racist abuse, physical attacks and robberies while working as a delivery driver.
He said delivery workers bring orders to customers regardless of which online platform the customers use. However, he alleged that some people treat them disrespectfully and use insults related to their nationality and skin colour.
“Some Cypriots tell us things like, ‘You are from that country’ or ‘You are black, why are you doing this job?’” he said.
Syed also alleged that people had thrown coffee in his face and, on other occasions, thrown money at him.
Asked whether he felt safe in Cyprus, he said he did not, explaining that he usually worked alone and did not have his family nearby.
Although he described working in Cyprus as a good opportunity, he said the behaviour of some individuals made life particularly difficult for delivery workers.
Syed further alleged that when workers approached police stations for help, they were told that they could not be assisted because they were nationals of third countries. This claim was made during the interview and was not independently verified in the account provided.
“They beat us, rob us and threaten us with knives”
Syed described alleged attacks in which groups of people threw stones, oranges and lemons at delivery workers.
He said that when workers stopped to ask why they were being targeted, their attackers would gather around them and beat them.
He also alleged that some workers had money stolen from them, their mobile phones damaged and knives used to threaten them.
Describing his own experience, Syed said a man had threatened him with a knife while he was on his way to deliver an order.
“One night, while I was going to deliver an order, a man pulled out a knife and took my order, my mobile phone and my money,” he said.
Syed said he called the police, who, according to his account, arrived at the scene an hour later.
His testimony also highlighted the financial consequences of such incidents. Losing a mobile phone or other essential equipment can prevent delivery workers from returning to work and earning an income.
Stolen equipment can leave workers unable to earn a living
The interview also addressed the difficulties workers face when their equipment is stolen or damaged during an alleged attack.
Syed said there was no provision to replace a bicycle if it was stolen. He said the same problem applied to other essential items, including food delivery bags and mobile phones.
“We cannot work without a bicycle, without the delivery bag and without a mobile phone. We need all of them for our job,” he said.
He explained that a worker who loses essential equipment during an attack cannot easily return to work. Replacing those items, he argued, would allow workers to resume deliveries and continue earning a living.
Syed said delivery workers often found themselves alone and exposed to unpredictable risks, without knowing whether the person they encountered during a delivery might harm them.
“If something bad happens to me, who will take responsibility for me?” he asked.
His question highlighted concerns about the safety and protection of people who spend their working hours on the roads delivering orders across Cyprus.
Also read: Limassol food delivery driver attacked and robbed of cash
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