The meal delivery staff working for Deliveroo in the UK are self-employed. The British Court of Appeal decided this in a case brought by the IWGB trade union. The judgment is good for Deliveroo because the self-employed are an important pillar of the company’s business model.
Previously, there was a lot of criticism about the way Deliveroo treats its senders. This happened shortly before the company’s IPO, which turned out to be a disappointment. The Deliveroo cycle will not align with the CSR cycle.
The ruling also conflicts with that of Uber Technologies, which previously lost a similar case over the condition of its drivers. The UK Supreme Court has ruled that Uber drivers should be treated as employees. With this status, they are entitled to a minimum wage and paid vacations, among other things.
The IGWB says it will assess its legal position following Thursday’s ruling. In addition, the association continues to focus on collective representation at Deliveroo.
Similar issues are occurring in the Netherlands and other European countries regarding the status of Deliveroo. At the end of March, an appeal will be lodged with the Amsterdam Court of Appeal as to whether or not the company’s caterers are subject to a collective labor agreement for professional freight transport. But after a challenge from Deliveroo, the case was adjourned. It is not yet known when it will work.
In 2019, the court ruled that delivery companies Deliveroo in the Netherlands fall under a collective labor agreement for the professional transport of goods. Therefore the company must apply this collective labor agreement retroactively. In February, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal ruled in another case that deliveroo caterers are not independent entrepreneurs, but employees entitled to an employment contract.
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