DELIVEROO ‘PARTNERSHIP’ ON SUPER IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PAYMENT: TWU

The call comes as Deliveroo confirmed a “partnership” with a superannuation company – but which won’t actually involve them paying their workers superannuation.

“Food delivery riders are being ripped off. They are denied superannuation payments and are forced to work below minimum rates, and sometimes not paid at all during shifts demanded by the companies. This so-called partnership on superannuation by Deliveroo is an insult to these riders who deserve rights and protections set down under the law,” said TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon.

Deliveroo also deduct 5% from their riders’ wages to cover third party insurance and fees associated with Deliveroo processing this insurance.

A survey shows three out of every four food delivery riders are paid below the minimum award wage, proving that the rates they are paid cannot cover their superannuation entitlements. Companies demand that riders sign up to shifts but if they receive no orders during that shift, they don’t get paid.

Riders have protested in Melbourne and Sydney in recent months over pay and conditions. TWU riders have taken unfair dismissal cases to the Fair work Commission after Foodora sacked them. Riders are holding regular meetings to formulate a plan to challenge exploitation in their industry.

“The on-demand economy is a tired example of the old-fashioned exploitation at play in modern Australia. The year may be 2018 but for some workers it looks a lot like the 1800s. Meanwhile our Federal Government encourages these tech billionaires to exploit our communities, saying, in the words of Workplace Minister Craig Laundy the system “is working exactly as it was designed to function’,” Sheldon added.

Further information from the survey included:

• almost 50% of riders said they or someone they know has been injured doing their job
• over 70% of riders said they should get entitlements such as sick leave.
• This is not a “pocket money job”:
  • 1 in 4 riders (26%) work full time hours (40+ hours per week)
  • 3 in 4 (76%) riders work 20 or more hours per week.
  • over 26% work more than 40 hours a week
  • The average age is just under 26 years

Survey results: http://www.twu.com.au/Home/Campaigns/ON-DEMAND-WORKERS-JOIN-THE-FIGHT!/On-Demand-Workers-Survey/