My name is Agostino and I am 51 years old. My job is delivering food by bicycle. I have two daughters, but we hardly ever speak. Their mother and I no longer live together because we are divorced.
I live with my mother, as I cannot afford to pay rent after the divorce. Rent is very expensive in this city.
Ji’oota muraasa dura dhaabbata tokko keessatti mana qulqulleessituu ta’ee hojjechaa ture. Wantoota cabe nan supha, saanduqawwan qabadheen deema, yeroo namni barbaadetti nan gargaara ture. Guyyaa tokko dhaabbatichi hojii irraa na ari’e. Maaliif akka ta’e naaf hin galle.
A few months ago I was working as a janitor for a company. I repaired things that were broken, carried boxes, and helped when anyone needed it. One day the company fired me. I did not understand why.
I saw many people delivering food by bicycle. I can ride a bicycle, so I knocked on the door of a big delivery company. They offered me three euros for each delivery. I make 40€ per day, 60€ if I am very lucky and the customers tip me.
Kaffaltii Ayyaanaa hin argadhu, kaffaltii dhukkubsataa hin argadhu, tasumaa mirga tokkollee hin argadhu. Sun sirrii natti hin fakkaatu, garuu hojiin sun na barbaachisa. Hojjettoonni biroo irra caalaan isaanii godaantota addunyaa mara irraa dhufaniidha.
I get no paid holiday, no sick pay, hardly any rights at all. I do not think that is right, but I need the job. Most of the other employees are immigrants from all over the world.
Namoonni geessan hedduun guyyaa guyyaan balaan miidhamu. Sana booda, namni umrii 25 geessu tokko konkolaataan rukutamee yeroo du’u, aanga’oonni nu hubachuu jalqaban. Osoo sun hin ta’iin dura du’uun isarra hin turre qaaniidha.
Many delivery people are injured in accidents every day. Then, when a 25-year-old deliveryman was hit by a car and died, the authorities started noticing us. It is a shame he had to die before that happened.
Together with delivery people from other companies, I took a course on workers’ rights with a local union. They offered us legal advice free of charge. We struggled to get more recognition and rights.
After a long time all our hard work paid off. One big delivery company had to pay a huge fine and to give workers permanent jobs. It was the first time that had happened anywhere in the whole world. It looks like things are starting to improve.
