TAKEN FOR A RIDE
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, key workers have been hailed for keeping the country going during the biggest public health crisis for decades. But the fact remains that some of those who have been working throughout the pandemic don’t even have the right to call themselves workers. So-called gig economy workers have been forced to head to the courts or go on strike to earn that classification. More than 400 of the 50,000 Deliveroo riders walked out last week, with their protest creating a spectacle on London’s roads. Riders wanted fair pay, bolstered workers’ rights and to be classed as dependent contractors – meaning they are self-employed but providing a service as part of a business. Deliveroo says riders can earn up to £13 an hour while “enjoying total flexibility”. But with little insight into how the…
