Latest news with #foodDelivery
Sky News
5 days ago
- Sky News
How e-bike riders are doing double the speed limit - and many of them work for fast food delivery firms
It's lunchtime on Birmingham's New Street. Close to its many restaurants, food delivery riders are congregating on their bikes. The area is packed with shoppers and workers. PC Paige Gartlan is approaching with other officers. She's on the lookout for illegally modified e-bikes - and she knows she'll find them here. "You can physically tell by looking at the bike that it's generally going to be illegal - the battery pack is taped on to the sides and generally the size of the motor that's on the back wheel," she explains. Sky News has been invited on an operation by West Midlands Police to find these bikes and get them off the streets. PC Gartlan has been hit by one before. She's had to tackle a rider to the floor after he drove into her. Within minutes, she's spotted a suspicious-looking bike. The rider makes a run for it - followed by plain-clothed officers. PC Gartlan tests the bike - it's showing a top speed of 52km/hr on the speedometer - just over 30mph. The speed limit for e-bikes in the UK is 15.5mph when using electric power for assistance. I look up the street and another two riders have been detained. In less than an hour, officers have confiscated four bikes - all were being ridden by fast food delivery drivers. The commotion is attracting a lot of attention. "They are dangerous," Sandra, who has just finished work, tells me. She's stood watching the riders being questioned. She says she's had near-misses herself and is worried for the safety of the elderly and children. It's not just West Midlands police officers here - immigration officials are carrying out checks too. They're involved in a nationwide operation, which has seen more than 7,000 arrests in the last year - a 50% increase on last year. Matthew Foster, the immigration enforcement lead officer for the West Midlands, tells me they've already found one individual who has entered the UK unlawfully. "He's been detained," he says, "to affect his removal from the UK." Further down the street, police are loading illegally modified bikes on to a van - they're destined to be crushed. One of them had belonged to Demoz. He's on his way home, carrying a big box with the logo of one of the main fast food delivery firms on it. He tells me he used to have an illegal bike, but he thought his new one was legal. "I make a mistake, I have to say sorry, I will do better for the future," he says. I get in touch with the big delivery firms; Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat. Their representatives say they constantly remind workers of their safety obligations, and that they're all working closely with the government to increase security checks on riders. As he leaves, Demoz, now bike-free, tells me he's thinking of changing his job.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Darden Raises Sales Outlook, Unveils $1B Buyback After Strong Olive Garden Momentum
Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) ranks among the best consumer discretionary stocks to buy now. Following solid quarterly results on June 20, Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) projects annual same-store sales above expectations, relying on demand from food delivery and marketing initiatives at its casual dining brands like Olive Garden. Image: Courtesy of Darden Darden (NYSE:DRI) anticipates a 2% to 3.5% annual growth in same-store sales, with the midpoint of this range exceeding analysts' projections of 2.64%. Additionally, initiatives like Olive Garden's 'buy one, take one' deals and home deliveries made possible by Uber Direct have further assisted the restaurant chain operator. In addition, the company disclosed plans to explore strategic alternatives for its Bahama Breeze brand while also announcing a new $1 billion share repurchase program. Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) is an American multi-brand restaurant operator headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Some of the most well-known and successful full-service dining brands can be found in Darden's restaurant family, including Yard House, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Olive Garden. While we acknowledge the potential of DRI as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. Read More: and Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Blatant law-breaking of illegal migrant delivery riders is scam Del Boy would be proud of… I have five ways to stop it
I CONFESS my initial reaction to yesterday's report on The Sun's investigation into asylum seekers working illegally as food delivery drivers was a combination of frustration, disbelief and anger. Frustration because it seems the Government is no nearer to achieving its goal of tackling English Channel crossings than it was on July 5 last year. 4 Since coming into power, more than 41,500 small boat migrants have arrived — and that is just those we know about. Take a look at Migration Watch's Channel Tracker ( which monitors the number of illegal arrivals. I find it very difficult to believe that ministers do not see the connection between the ease with which traffickers can get migrants here, with a helping hand from Border Force and the RNLI. Migrants are even seen on their way with a cheery wave by the French authorities assembled on the beach. Having arrived on our shores and after a cursory check they are on their way to free accommodation, £40-plus pocket money a week and, now it seems, a job in one of the fastest-growing sectors in the economy. It beggars belief They earn money delivering food, to pay off their traffickers and to send cash home to their family so that they can eventually join them in the UK. What makes me and most ordinary, hard-working, taxpaying and fair-minded citizens angry is that the Government seems to think this is acceptable. After a year in office and abandoning the only possible deterrent, the Rwanda scheme — I make no apology for mentioning it again — and doing away with the legal requirement for the Home Secretary to remove illegal arrivals, the Government has done nothing to discourage migrants and traffickers. On the contrary, its actions, or rather inaction, has simply encouraged crossings. That's why, by the end of the year, I expect there to have been more than 50,000 illegal arrivals. Channel migrants queue for cash in hand jobs as secrets of UK's £260bn illegal economy revealed In fact, the total for the year so far stands at 18,400, which is almost 50 per cent higher than the number of small boat migrants who had crossed at this point in 2024. At this rate, could we see more than 60,000 arriving? I wouldn't rule it out. It seems the gig economy — Deliveroo, Just Eat and UberEats included — need not worry about a shortage of deliverers. I confess, The Sun's report yesterday almost made me smile. How could you not laugh at the description of the scene outside a hotel in Peckham where 'the entire courtyard was filled with bikes and bags surrounding a replica of the Only Fools And Horses [Reliant] three-wheeler'? 4 4 This scam, for that is what it is, would have made Del Boy proud. As for the reaction of ministers. It beggars belief. Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson, who, in fairness to her, commended The Sun's report, said: 'The Sun investigation is right to highlight this illegal working racket, which undermines honest business and undercuts local wages.' No kidding, minister. While Dame Angela Eagle, the Border Security and Asylum Minister, 'is meeting delivery companies next week, to help tackle illegal working in this sector.' I find that exasperating. This is the minister who sought to cast me a racist when I gave evidence to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, to explain that repealing the Safety of Rwanda Act would 'encourage illegal immigration'. I was right, it has. She brushed this aside by asking what Migration Watch meant by the word 'indigenous' on its website. She now, it seems, is committing to talking to gig economy companies about what they intend to do to stop the illegal migrant workers, who are helping them make huge profits. The real question is, what are you going to do about it Minister? May I suggest that, if you are serious about stopping blatant law-breaking and removing one of the major incentives for migrants to make their way to the UK, you should: Ban the likes of Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat from permitting their drivers to rent out their accounts. Impose punitive fines on the companies that turn a blind eye to this dangerous practice. Make clear that migrants found to be working illegally while awaiting a decision on their asylum application will not be granted asylum. Require the companies to control and monitor the issue of licences. Applicants for these accounts must be properly vetted to ensure they have the right to work, but also ensure they do not pose a danger to those they deliver to — especially women and the elderly. The business model for these companies thrives on easy-to-hire deliverers. While that may serve their interests and those of migrants and trafficking gangs, it does nothing for the taxpayer. Hard-working Brits are effectively subsidising the practice, by providing free accommodation and benefits to the migrants, who are, after all, people who have broken into our country and then been housed and looked after. They have to be stopped.
South China Morning Post
22-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Deep Dive: Hong Kong's gig workers call for more industry regulation
Deep Dive delves into hot issues in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our easy-to-read articles provide context to grasp what's happening, while our questions help you craft informed responses. Check sample answers at the end of the page. News: Hong Kong's gig economy workers want industry regulation Although the gig economy is on the rise, better protection for workers is needed Delivery workers have urged for more employment protection in a series of strikes Hong Kong food delivery rider John Lam* is careful while delivering orders on his motorcycle. The 40-year-old knows that if he has a work-related accident, he will receive few benefits and minimal compensation. 'While consistent food delivery work can lead to a very good income, the major downside is that it leaves couriers like me without essential basic and labour protections,' he said. Lam delivers food for the city's two online platforms, Foodpanda and Keeta. 'It would be nice if the government regulated the industry, granting us employee status and entitling us to annual leave, sick leave and a pension.' Lam earns an average of HK$45,000 to HK$50,000 monthly, working 10 hours a day, six days a week. He said he was fully aware of the risks when he started working with online food delivery platforms five years ago. Still, the money was too good to pass up. Lam is among the thousands of Hongkongers making a living in the so-called gig economy. He is also not alone in calling for the industry to be regulated. Deep Dive: Hong Kong authorities aim to boost 'silver economy' by encouraging elderly spending Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han told lawmakers in May that the government would introduce proposals to enhance platform workers' rights and benefits within the year. Authorities would consider reinforcing protections for them through legislative means. Sun's remarks came shortly after several strikes by Keeta workers. Their demands included increasing their pay per order, better protections and higher safeguards against illegal workers. In Hong Kong, those working for food delivery and ride-hailing platforms are among the most visible members of the gig economy. The city had as many as 64,000 online delivery couriers and 50,000 app-based ride-hailing and taxi drivers in 2023, according to calculations by the Legislative Council Secretariat's research office. A survey commissioned by the Labour Department and conducted between December 2023 and March 2024 found that nearly 13,000 people had worked for food and goods delivery digital platforms in the previous year. The city does not have legislation specifically covering digital platform workers. They are usually classified as self-employed. This means they are normally not entitled to benefits such as paid annual leave and sick leave as stipulated under the Employment Ordinance, payouts for work-related injuries under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, or minimum wage protection. Staff writers * Name changed at interviewee's request Question prompts 1. According to News, which of the following statements are true? (1) John Lam supports government regulation of the food delivery industry to improve workers' rights and protections. (2) Gig economy workers in Hong Kong are automatically entitled to benefits such as sick leave and paid annual leave. (3) The Hong Kong government is considering legislation to improve conditions for platform workers. (4) There were more than 64,000 app-based ride-hailing and taxi drivers in Hong Kong as of 2023. A. (1), (2) only B. (2), (4) only C. (1), (3) only D. (3), (4) only 2. List TWO demands that striking delivery workers had in regard to employment benefits. 3. Why might Hong Kong food delivery workers want the government to regulate the gig economy, and what issues could regulation address? Explain using News and your own knowledge. Photo Hong Kong had more than 64,000 people working as online food delivery couriers as of 2023. Photo: Jelly Tse Question prompts 1. According to the information in News, why do delivery workers need to be careful while they are on the job? 2. Using News and your own knowledge, list TWO reasons why people might choose to work in the gig economy. Illustration Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen Question prompts 1. List TWO changes that delivery workers are hoping the government will implement to improve their working conditions. 2. What do the roadblocks labelled 'Labour Protections' and 'Pay rates' in the illustration represent in the context of the gig economy? Issue: Hong Kong must balance protection with overregulation, experts say City has been urged to look at Britain's three-tier employment model as a reference Some called for a legal definition of gig workers In April, delivery rider Ahmad, 32, injured his back after falling off his motorbike while delivering for Keeta. 'When I was injured and couldn't work for 10 days, I had zero income. In my line of work, more effort means more pay, and sometimes rushing to get ahead can lead to accidents,' said Ahmad, who asked to be identified by his first name only. The Hong Kong resident hopes government regulation will improve labour rights for delivery riders – such as requiring companies to offer full-time contracts with clear terms for salary and workplace injury compensation. Ahmad joined the strikes against Keeta after his pay per order dropped from an average of HK$50 to HK$28 following Deliveroo's exit from Hong Kong in April. Other riders believe a legal framework could also help deter illegal workers from joining these platforms. Heiwai Tang, associate dean and professor of economics at the University of Hong Kong's business school, said the ideal regulatory regime for Hong Kong should include sufficient protection against workplace injuries, as well as safeguards against platforms using overly aggressive algorithms that put too much pressure on workers, such as penalties for running late. There should also be a legal definition for gig workers and a body set up where all stakeholders in the industry could communicate with each other. But Tang said it was important to maintain the flexibility of gig work, as overregulation could drive people away from these jobs. 'The appearance of these platforms shows there is a clear demand for them; some people really need this flexibility,' he said. Deep Dive: Hong Kong workers say they are losing jobs under labour import scheme 'A gig worker should not be seen as a worker who has a nine-to-five job that has the protections of minimum wage, maximum working hours or contributions to their MPF. If you do too much, everyone will lose.' Unionist lawmaker Lam Chun-sing said gig workers should not be classified as full-time employees, as this would result in higher costs for platform operators while workers would lose some freedom. Lam pointed to Britain's three-tier employment status model as an example, with categories of employee, worker and self-employed. Employees have full employment rights, while the self-employed receive the least protection. The middle tier, workers, have limited rights, such as minimum wage and holiday pay. He said the Hong Kong government should consider defining a third type of employment mode for gig workers, which would entitle them to some protections. The Labour Department said it had received 83 employee compensation claims involving digital platform workers between January 2021 and May 2025. As of June 13, 30 of these cases were concluded with compensation paid, and 48 were withdrawn or not pursued by the employees. Staff writers Question prompts 1. Which of the following statements is true? (1) Ahmad joined the strike against Keeta partly because his pay per order decreased significantly after Deliveroo exited Hong Kong. (2) Unionist lawmaker Lam Chun-sing supports creating a third employment category for gig workers that offers some protections without removing flexibility. (3) Heiwai Tang believes the government should give gig workers the same protections as full-time employees, including minimum wage and MPF contributions. (4) The Labour Department received over 90 employee compensation claims from digital platform workers between 2021 and 2024. A. (1), (2) only B. (2), (4) only C. (1), (3) only D. (3), (4) only 2. List TWO measures that have been proposed to improve the working conditions of gig workers in Hong Kong. 3. How do experts and lawmakers differ in their views on balancing worker protections and job flexibility in the gig economy? Explain using Issue and your own knowledge. Glossary labour protections: legal and human rights relating to labour relations between workers and employers. In Hong Kong, this could include benefits such as sick pay and compensation for work-related injuries. gig economy: a labour market commonly characterised by temporary or freelance work, usually through digital platforms such as Uber and Foodpanda minimum wage: the lowest hourly or daily pay that employers are legally required to offer workers. The statutory minimum wage in Hong Kong is HK$42.10 per hour, effective May 1, 2025. aggressive algorithms: automated systems used by platforms to monitor and manage gig workers, often penalising them for minor delays or pushing them to complete more orders in a short amount of time Sample answers News 1. C 2. Striking delivery workers have demanded better protections, including employee status, annual leave, sick leave, and a pension. (accept any two answers) 3. Food delivery workers like Lam want the government to regulate the gig economy so they can gain access to basic employment protections such as annual leave, sick leave, and pension benefits. Currently, most gig workers are classified as self-employed, which means they are not entitled to protections under laws like the Employment Ordinance or the Employees' Compensation Ordinance. This leaves them vulnerable, especially in the case of work-related accidents, despite often working long hours and earning relatively high incomes. Photo 1. Delivery workers need to take extreme care because they lack basic labour protections and are usually not covered by employee benefits. As mentioned in the text, if Lam has a work-related accident, he will receive little compensation and no paid sick leave, since gig workers are typically classified as self-employed. From a practical standpoint, they also face physical risks, such as road accidents, due to long working hours, fatigue, or adverse weather conditions, yet they have no safety net to rely on if they are injured. 2. People might choose gig jobs because of the possibility of high pay, the flexibility of the working hours, the ease of signing up for and leaving such positions, or because it is difficult to find a full-time white-collar job. (accept all reasonable answers) Illustration 1. Delivery workers hope the government will require companies to offer full-time contracts with clear terms on pay and injury compensation and create a legal framework that deters illegal workers and provides basic labour protections, such as a minimum wage and holiday pay. 2. The roadblocks symbolise the major challenges and uncertainties faced by gig workers, such as food delivery riders. 'Labour Protections' refers to the lack of basic rights such as sick leave, injury compensation, and paid holidays, while 'Pay rates' represents declining earnings and the unstable income structure after events like Deliveroo's exit from Hong Kong. These obstacles make it difficult for gig workers to move forward securely in their careers. Issue 1. A 2. Introduce a legal definition for gig workers and create a platform for industry stakeholders to communicate / Establish a third employment category that offers some protections, such as minimum wage and holiday pay, without full employee status. 3. Professor Heiwai Tang and lawmakers such as Lam Chun-sing both acknowledge the importance of protecting gig workers, but they emphasise different aspects of the balance. Tang stressed the need for safeguards, such as protection against injury and pressure from aggressive algorithms, while warning that overregulation could reduce the flexibility that attracts people to gig work in the first place. He believes gig workers shouldn't be treated like traditional nine-to-five employees. Similarly, Lam supports the idea of preserving flexibility and warns against fully classifying gig workers as full-time employees, which could increase costs for platforms and limit workers' freedom. Instead, he proposed adopting a third employment category, like the UK model, to offer partial protections without removing flexibility.
South China Morning Post
22-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Spark Deep Dive: Hong Kong's gig workers want the industry regulated
Deep Dive delves into hot issues in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our easy-to-read articles provide context to grasp what's happening, while our questions help you craft informed responses. Check sample answers at the end of the page. News: Hong Kong's gig economy workers want industry regulation Although the gig economy is on the rise, better protection for workers is needed Delivery workers have urged for more employment protection in a series of strikes Hong Kong food delivery rider John Lam* is careful while delivering orders on his motorcycle. The 40-year-old knows that if he has a work-related accident, he will receive few benefits and minimal compensation. 'While consistent food delivery work can lead to a very good income, the major downside is that it leaves couriers like me without essential basic and labour protections,' he said. Lam delivers food for the city's two online platforms, Foodpanda and Keeta. 'It would be nice if the government regulated the industry, granting us employee status and entitling us to annual leave, sick leave and a pension.' Lam earns an average of HK$45,000 to HK$50,000 monthly, working 10 hours a day, six days a week. He said he was fully aware of the risks when he started working with online food delivery platforms five years ago. Still, the money was too good to pass up. Lam is among the thousands of Hongkongers making a living in the so-called gig economy. He is also not alone in calling for the industry to be regulated. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han told lawmakers in May that the government would introduce proposals to enhance platform workers' rights and benefits within the year. Authorities would consider reinforcing protections for them through legislative means. Sun's remarks came shortly after several strikes by Keeta workers. Their demands included increasing their pay per order, better protections and higher safeguards against illegal workers. In Hong Kong, those working for food delivery and ride-hailing platforms are among the most visible members of the gig economy. The city had as many as 64,000 online delivery couriers and 50,000 app-based ride-hailing and taxi drivers in 2023, according to calculations by the Legislative Council Secretariat's research office. A survey commissioned by the Labour Department and conducted between December 2023 and March 2024 found that nearly 13,000 people had worked for food and goods delivery digital platforms in the previous year. The city does not have legislation specifically covering digital platform workers. They are usually classified as self-employed. This means they are normally not entitled to benefits such as paid annual leave and sick leave as stipulated under the Employment Ordinance, payouts for work-related injuries under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, or minimum wage protection. Staff writers * Name changed at interviewee's request Question prompts 1. According to the news, which of the following statements are true? (1) John Lam supports government regulation of the food delivery industry to improve workers' rights and protections. (2) Gig economy workers in Hong Kong are automatically entitled to benefits such as sick leave and paid annual leave. (3) The Hong Kong government is considering legislation to improve conditions for platform workers. (4) There were more than 64,000 app-based ride-hailing and taxi drivers in Hong Kong as of 2023. A. (1), (2) only B. (2), (4) only C. (1), (3) only D. (3), (4) only 2. List TWO demands that striking delivery workers had in regard to employment benefits. 3. Why might Hong Kong workers want the government to regulate the gig economy, and what issues could it address? Explain using the news and your own knowledge. Illustration Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen Question prompts 1. List TWO changes that gig workers hope the government will implement to improve their working conditions. 2. What do the roadblocks labelled 'Labour Protections' and 'Pay rates' in the illustration represent about the gig economy? Glossary gig economy: a labour market commonly characterised by temporary or freelance work, usually through digital platforms such as Uber and Foodpanda minimal compensation: Without legislation specifically covering digital platform workers, they are not normally entitled to payouts for work-related injuries under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance minimum wage: the lowest hourly or daily pay that employers are legally required to offer workers. The statutory minimum wage in Hong Kong is HK$42.10 per hour, effective May 1, 2025. Sample answers News 1. C 2. Striking delivery workers have demanded better protections, including employee status, annual leave, sick leave, and a pension. (accept any two answers) 3. Food delivery workers like Lam want the government to regulate the gig economy so they can gain access to basic employment protections such as annual leave, sick leave, and pension benefits. Currently, most gig workers are classified as self-employed, which means they are not entitled to protections under laws like the Employment Ordinance or the Employees' Compensation Ordinance. This leaves them vulnerable, especially in the case of work-related accidents, despite often working long hours and earning relatively high incomes. Illustration 1. Delivery workers hope the government will require companies to offer full-time contracts with clear terms on pay and injury compensation and create a legal framework that deters illegal workers and provides basic labour protections, such as a minimum wage and holiday pay. 2. The roadblocks symbolise the major challenges and uncertainties faced by gig workers, such as food delivery riders. 'Labour Protections' refers to the lack of basic rights such as sick leave, injury compensation, and paid holidays, while 'Pay rates' represents declining earnings and the unstable income structure after events like Deliveroo's exit from Hong Kong. These obstacles make it difficult for gig workers to move forward securely in their careers.
