Deliveroo softens stance on driver pay
Deliveroo has altered its approach to driver pay after last week's demonstrations and said "nothing is set in stone at this stage" as it canvasses driver feedback.
The restaurant food delivery firm had come under fire for a pilot proposal to pay drivers £3.75 per delivery, rather than the existing agreement of £7 an hour plus £1 per delivery.
In a blog post on its website Deliveroo said that the new payment rates had been part of a trial of 280 riders out of its 3,000 strong London employees.
It said: "In the places we've piloted it [the £3.75 per delivery model], we've seen average hourly fees for riders increase by up to x2 the previous payment model at our busiest times."
But the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (DBEIS) has since said workers must be paid the National Living Wage of £7.20 an hour.
Deliveroo said the new proposals were just a trial and that drivers would be able to opt out.
It added: "Some riders in the affected areas have expressed concerns about how the drop fee trial will work. We have reached out to them to hear their feedback and have offered them the choice to stick with the current fee model if they prefer.
"Ultimately, if this model doesn't work for our riders, it doesn't work for us."
Those who opt in to the new trial will be offered a guaranteed minimum income, depending on the time of day, until 14 September 2016.