Tomer Gardi's novel 'Liefern' exposes the global realities of food delivery workers

Tomer Gardi's novel 'Liefern' examines the lives of food delivery workers across global cities like Delhi, Tel Aviv, and Istanbul. The book follows Filmon, an Eritrean refugee in Tel Aviv who loses his job when local cafes frequently fail. He becomes a rider for Indie-Go, encountering Shai, who provides undocumented workers with fake identity cards for a 15% commission. Filmon's earnings must support three people, including his wife who reached Berlin as a refugee. Gardi portrays these predominantly male workers as an anonymous mass racing through streets with square backpacks, giving dignity to their often invisible labor. The novel reveals systemic exploitation within the gig economy, where workers lack proper papers and face precarious conditions.