Fury at Deliveroo bosses’ £20m share options as riders struggle

DELIVEROO chiefs got a share bonanza potentially topping £20milion last year while riders protested at pay and conditions.

The takeaway delivery firm’s highest-paid director got a share option of almost £8.3million. It refused to say if this was CEO and co-founder Will Shu, 38.

There has been a wave of rider protests, with some in Manchester striking in February in a bid to get a minimum of £5 a delivery.

Deliveroo says riders are paid an average of £10 an hour. But all 25,000 UK riders are self-employed, and get no paid holiday or sick pay.

Accounts for parent company, Roofoods Ltd, show £22.9million went to “key management personnel” last year. Of that, £20.7million was linked to share options, which only have a notional value, but could be worth a mint if Deliveroo is bought, or floated on the stock market. The GMB union’s Mick Rix said: “Under the guise of bogus selfemployment, fatcats make a mint while those who keep the business running struggle.

“We urge Deliveroo to meet the GMB so we can help them improve conditions. for workers.” Deliveroo has 60,000 riders and previously said giving them shares would threaten their selfemployed status. A spokeswoman said riders got free insurance against injury at work. They also had the flexibility to “fit work around their life not the other way round”, she claimed. The firm employs 2,300 staff directly and, she said: “Last year we announced that all staff would be given share options in the company.”