07 July 2017

Courier firm Deliveroo, which has been in the spotlight for its "gig economy" practices, has said today that it will offer workers more rights if the law is changed.

The company said it will provide sick pay to its 15,000 riders if the law is changed so that it can do so while retaining the classification of the couriers as "self employed", according to the BBC.

Deliveroo claimed that its couriers would not be able to work with the same flexibility they currently enjoy unless the parameters of the employment status was changed.

But the Independent Workers' of Great Britain union has pointed out that there is nothing in the law to stop Deliveroo from offering its couriers sick pay if it wishes to.

"Deliveroo's claim that unfortunately the law prevents them from giving employment rights and benefits is utter hypocritical nonsense,” said the union's General Secretary Dr Jason-Moyer Lee.

"There is nothing to suggest, either logically or legally, that flexibility and employment rights are mutually exclusive," he added.

The union, which is currently challenging the employment status of Deliveroo riders and seeking recognition to collectively bargain from pay and conditions, said couriers for the firm are "at the very least" workers, rather than self-employed.