Delivery Drivers Deserve Dignity: Fighting Exploitation in the Gig Economy
📢 A Call for Justice: My Letter to the Government
On February 7, 2025, I sent an email to the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, voicing the frustrations of thousands of delivery drivers like me. We work grueling 12-hour shifts, rushing through congested streets and battling harsh weather, only to earn as little as 💰 £2.80 per delivery—with no holiday pay, no sick leave, and no financial security. We are treated as disposable workers, denied even the most basic protections under the guise of “self-employment.”
I urged the government to take action: to ✅ reclassify us as workers, ensure 💷 fair wages, and put an end to the ruthless exploitation built into the gig economy. On March 13, I received a response from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). While it’s a step forward, it’s far from enough. Here’s what I shared, what they said, and why this battle is just beginning.
🚗 The Harsh Reality of Being a Delivery Driver
Imagine working 12-hour shifts, only to take home less than 💵 £80 before expenses—a figure that shrinks further after ⛽ fuel, 🔧 repairs, and 🏦 taxes. That’s the daily grind for thousands of delivery drivers in the UK, including myself. Companies like Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat have masterfully exploited a legal loophole, branding us as “self-employed contractors” to sidestep minimum wage laws and strip us of workplace protections.
- ❌ No sick pay when we fall ill.
- ❌ No holiday pay to rest and recover.
- ❌ No pension for long-term financial security.
- ❌ No job security—we can be 🔴 deactivated without warning, losing our entire livelihood in an instant.
Meanwhile, these platforms flood the market with drivers, driving down our already meager earnings, while lax account verification allows 🚨 unauthorized workers to use other profiles, further squeezing the legitimate drivers who rely on this work to survive. We are not asking for favors—we are demanding fairness.
📜 The Government’s Response: Words Without Action
The DBT’s reply, dated March 13, 2025, acknowledges our concerns but offers little in terms of concrete action. The response outlines the three-tier employment status system (employee, worker, self-employed) and admits that misclassification is a serious issue.
However, their stance remains unchanged:
- ✔️ Employees and workers are entitled to the National Minimum Wage and workplace protections.
- ❌ Self-employed individuals (like delivery drivers) supposedly “choose” flexibility, meaning we forfeit rights like sick pay and fair wages.
🔥 The Fight Isn’t Over—It’s Just Beginning
The DBT’s letter is not the end of the road—it’s the start of something bigger. We won’t stop fighting until delivery drivers get the dignity, rights, and wages we deserve.
📢 Here’s how YOU can help:
- ✅ If you’re a driver—file complaints with Acas and HMRC, and share your story online.
- ✅ If you’re a customer—next time you order food, think about the person bringing it to you. Support fair treatment for drivers by holding platforms accountable.
- ✅ If you care about workers’ rights—demand action. 📩 Email your local MP today and urge them to support the fight for fair wages and protections for gig workers. Find your MP here: www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-your-mp/
📜 Read the Government’s Response
If you want to read the full response from the Department for Business and Trade regarding our concerns, you can access it below:
🚪 The door has been opened—but now it’s time to push through and demand real change. We need action—not just words. Together, we can make work pay—not just in government plans, but in real life.
