Didier Gosuin: Deliveroo risks social regression for 1000 delivery riders

Didier Gosuin: Deliveroo risks social regression for 1000 delivery riders
A Deliveroo worker stacks boxes in Belgium. © Belga

Didier Gosuin is concerned about Deliveroo’s decision to put an end to the current work arrangement for a thousand delivery drivers. Deliveroo has denounced the agreement initiated in 2016 to regulate this form of work. The Brussels Minister for Employment and Economy, Didier Gosuin (DéFI), himself denounced on Thursday that it “marks a retrograde step which will only worry those defending the collaborative economy and social liberalism.”

The company announced its decision to put an end to the agreement initiated in 2016 with SMart, to regulate the work of delivery drivers. As indicated above, Didier Gosuin said, “Deliveroo are indicating a clear retrograde step which will only worry those defending the collaborative economy and social liberalism. Progress had been made with this agreement in 2016. At the time it enshrined hourly payment respecting legal minima, guaranteed payment for a minimum of three hours for each day worked, took account of various expenses and created bonuses. Such drivers were not getting the moon but it was progress in a way.” He lamented, “The return to the payment of workers for each individual delivery, is the route to precarious employment.”

The Brussels Minister for Employment and Economy says that this announcement by Deliveroo comes at a time when the main players (SMart and the trade unions) were about to reach a commercial collective bargaining agreement (known as a “CCT”) in this sphere. Didier Gosuin added, “Instead of achieving the chances of succeeding in a world first, that is to say the creation of a form of modern social pact in the field of digital platforms, this is now a retrograde step. That is not how we will create innovative economic and sustainable development.” He stated that he was in contact with Deliveroo to hear the concerns of the company and attempt to appreciate their arguments.

Mr Gosuin lastly mentioned that he had been warning for some three years of the risks linked to “Uberization of the economy.” He insisted, “I am a strong proponent of the digital economy and the collaborative economy. However, there must be a regulated social and fiscal framework to ensure the dignity of everyone’s work and a fair contribution to our social model by all stakeholders at any given moment in time.”


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