Deliveroo faces MP inquiry over hiring and working conditions of couriers

Deliveroo couriers's hiring and pay conditions face scrutiny from MPs in the latest gig economy legal case.

MP and chairman of the work and pensions committee Frank Field, who would be leading the inquiry, was set to gather evidence from Deliveroo riders over the next five weeks.

He had already taken evidence from other couriers working at Hermes, Uber, DPD and Parcelforce.

Field said of the gig economy: "The weight of the evidence I’ve seen shows that bogus self-employment is being peddled by those who benefit so handsomely from the gig economy, to avoid the obligations they have to their workforce.

"I now wish to see if this is a partial view or whether it, sadly, represents what is going on in yet another company operating in the gig economy," he added.

The inquiry will include a round-table where Deliveroo’s workers will give oral evidence.

In addition, on Friday the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), won the right to seek a judicial review of a ruling that found Deliveroo couriers were not entitled to union representation.

The union has raised £23,000 so far in crowdfunding for the legal costs of the case and is expected to launch the judicial review by the end of this year.