Sunny Waseem* is often spotted on his motorbike with a food delivery bag weaving through the Hong Kong traffic under the scorching sun.
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However, what goes unnoticed is the sweat, headaches, thirst and anxiety to fulfil an order on time.
The 38-year-old delivery rider routinely works more than 12 hours daily, handling back-to-back orders during the busy lunch rush.
“Most of our working hours are during the very hot weather. So it really affects [me], I feel exhaustion and increase in sweat and short breath,” said the full-time rider, who has six years of experience.
Waseem said that he had to take painkillers several times a week to relieve headaches caused by the heat.
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However, he felt he could not afford to take breaks in the shade because the food delivery platform would downgrade him with its algorithms, leading to a reduction in his income.