ONE IN THREE SELF EMPLOYED DELIVERY DRIVERS PAID BELOW MINIMUM WAGE, STUDY SHOWS

More than one in three self employed delivery drivers are paid below the minimum wage, a shocking new report shows.

The University of Sheffield paper – Work and Employment in UK Last Mile Parcel Delivery – spoke to almost 1,500 couriers of a two year period, many of whom are GMB members.

Of those, 35 per cent of self employed drivers estimated they earn less than the National Minimum Wage – as well as facing significant costs, including fuel, insurance, vehicle maintenance and mobile phones.

Nicola Savage, GMB National Officer, said:

“GMB Union and progressive companies have made massive strides in improving pay, terms and conditions in the delivery sector.

“Yet despite this, last mile deliveries remain a wild west, with many contractors locked in a race to the bottom.

“We call on all delivery companies to work with GMB to improve standards for couriers across the UK.”