The women food delivery drivers forced to run gauntlet of sex pests

FEMALE food delivery drivers in Scotland are being plagued by sexual harassment and abuse, a study has found.

Research by academics at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh found that more than 80 per cent of couriers feel unsafe at their work.

All the women who took part in the survey said they had experienced sexual harassment or abuse while doing deliveries.

The two-year project gathered feedback from 207 workers, including 33 women, employed in the food delivery industry in cities across Scotland.

It revealed more than 81 per cent felt unsafe in their job yet continued due to financial necessity, while 78 per cent believed their employer focused more on the needs of customers rather than employees.

More than 60 per cent suffered racial or ethnic abuse, with 55 per cent physically abused, primarily due to road incidents and accidents.

One male driver called Jordan told the researchers: ‘I’m constantly being threatened by people, not only customers but on the road. It’s like they see a guy with a delivery bag and they are constantly giving me grief.’

Another courier called Jay said: ‘It’s very dangerous work because there’s more and more “hit and run”, especially for riders working at night, and some colleagues really get hurt and then they can’t work of course.’

The food courier sector boomed post-Covid, with an increasing number of restaurants, stores and food delivery companies taking orders direct to customers.

Employment in food delivery remains an important avenue for many to enter the labour market, and a primary source of income for 48 per cent of those surveyed, particularly among migrant workers.

Lead researcher Dr Pedro Mendonca, from Heriot-Watt’s Centre for Employment, Work and the Professions, said: ‘Our findings shed light on the reality food delivery couriers have to confront daily.

‘I want to see food delivery companies, government and trade unions working together to improve employment conditions across the sector and to take action on the concerns voiced by workers.’

Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, called for the introduction of safeguards to better protect workers’ rights.

She said: ‘To read that all women surveyed had experienced sexual harassment or abuse, with 81 per cent of couriers overall feeling fundamentally unsafe in their work, is inexcusable and requires urgent action from government.

‘These workers need protection. If we are to become a Fair Work Nation by 2025, the exploitative, abusive practices this vital research highlights must be purged.’

Funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the study involved co-investigators from the University of Strathclyde and Nottingham Trent University.

‘Constantly being threatened’