At least 3,000 UK drivers delivering for Amazon through Delivery Service Partners are entitled to compensation and full employment rights, according to a law firm bringing a case against the e-commerce giant. Drivers involved in the case are seeking to challenge their classification as self-employed contractors and gain full employment rights, including sick pay and the minimum wage.
Currently, drivers delivering through Delivery Service Partners do not have an employment contract and are therefore not entitled to employment rights. However, law firm Leigh Day argues that the working relationship between Amazon and its drivers means they should be classified as employees.
Kate Robinson, a solicitor in Leigh Day’s employment division, commented: “Amazon is short-changing drivers making deliveries on their behalf. This is disgraceful behaviour from a company that makes billions of pounds a year.”
“Drivers delivering for Amazon have to work set shifts and book time off, yet Amazon claim they are self-employed. For drivers, earning at least national minimum wage, getting holiday pay and being under a proper employment contract could be life changing.”
Leigh Day claims that drivers may be entitled to around £10,500 in compensation per year they have delivered for Amazon. With around 3,000 drivers said to be affected, the law firm estimates that the online retailer could owe a total of approximately £140 million in compensation to its UK drivers.
The case has been launched on behalf of two drivers, with Leigh Day seeking more to join. The drivers involved described how Amazon’s delivery app provides an estimated travel time they must meet between deliveries and said that, as the company does not enable them to return undelivered parcels to a depot, they often have to expend extra fuel attempting to redeliver packages.
Drivers have also said that their earnings from deliveries are further impacted by vehicle insurance and rental costs.
Amazon responded in a statement: “We are committed to ensuring these drivers are fairly compensated by the delivery companies they work with and are treated with respect, and this is reflected by the positive feedback we hear from drivers every day.”
