Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE GIG ISSUE
Zero-hours job applications soar despite pay fears
HUGE numbers of people are competing for “gig economy” jobs despite workers’ reports of low pay and harsh conditions.
A probe of indeed.com found searches for Uber Eats and Amazon delivery jobs were up 87% and 500%.
But a survey found 46% of zerohours workers say they earn less than the National Minimum Wage, now £8.91 per hour for over-23s. Deliveroo rider Shaf Hussain said he gets only around £6 an hour on average.
He added: “We don’t get paid for time. I go to a restaurant… if I wait 10 minutes, I don’t get paid for that.”
A worker delivering Amazon parcels via a subcontractor told
Channel 4’s Dispatches he sometimes has to deliver up to 400 parcels a day.
He said: “If you try to find a toilet... it’s impossible. I’m treated like a slave.”
He claimed his pay is around £9.44 an hour after fuel and insurance.
Dispatches also found 63% of zerohours workers, who get no sick pay, carried on working despite illness.
Last month the Mirror revealed claims thousands of Deliveroo riders worked for under the minimum wage.
Deliveroo said riders’ well-being was a priority and that they could earn £13 per hour at “busiest times”. Amazon said: “We are committed to ensuring drivers are fairly compensated and treated with respect.”
An Uber spokesman said: “We are currently the only operator guaranteeing these drivers worker rights.”
■ Low Pay Britain: Dispatches is on tonight at 8pm on Channel 4.