Amazon, Uber, and Deliveroo quizzed on staff working conditions
29 March 2017
The Scottish Affairs Committee continues its inquiry into sustainable employment with a session looking at the gig economy and flexible employment.
- Watch Parliament TV: Sustainable employment in Scotland
- Inquiry: Sustainable employment in Scotland
- Scottish Affairs Committee
Witnesses
Wednesday 29 March 2017, Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster
At 2.15pm
The gig economy and insecure employment
- Lesley Smith, Director of Public Policy, Amazon
- Andrew Byrne, Head of Public Policy, Uber
- Dan Warne, Managing Director, UK and Ireland, Deliveroo
At 3.15pm
The hospitality sector
- Willie Macleod, Executive Director in Scotland, British Hospitality Association
Purpose of the session
In the first session, the Committee speaks to representatives of Uber, Amazon and Deliveroo about the employment models they use. New technologies have allowed these companies to expand rapidly and dominate new markets in a short space of time.
However, they are still reliant on having large numbers of couriers and drivers, who aren't employed by the companies owning the apps, to enable them to provide the services they offer.
Proponents of this system argue it allows workers to choose hours that suit them, but there has been criticism that it removes obligations for key worker rights.
In the second session, the Committee speaks to the British Hospitality Association. The hospitality sector has long been one of the lowest paying sectors in the Scottish economy, and the Committee has heard that concerns that businesses in the sector are over-reliant on zero hours contracts.
The Committee will be asking why wages in this sector are so low, and what can be done to improve employment opportunities.
Chair's comments
Ahead of the session, Committee chair Pete Wishart commented:
"We are eager to speak to companies like Uber and Deliveroo, who less than a decade since being founded have become major enterprises with thousands of drivers using their apps to find jobs every day. They have each chosen to utilise a business model whereby a large part of their workers are not regarded as employees. Why have they chosen this form of business model? Does it meet the needs of their drivers?
Employees in the UK can expect protection under law, in terms of wage levels, sickness and maternity leave and many other things. Above that they want work that is fulfilling and can provide sustainable employment. We'll be asking these companies which of the factors the gig economy satisfies.
We will also be looking at particular concerns we have heard regarding the hospitality sector in Scotland. The hospitality industry has historically been one of the lowest paying employment sectors in the Scottish economy, and low job security is also a common feature of jobs in this industry. We will be asking the British Hospitality Association what they are doing to improve workers representation and working conditions in their industry.
I'm hosting a live Q&A on facebook on Wednesday 29 March so if you have any questions about this inquiry or any of the work we do to scrutinise the way Scotland is governed please visit facebook."
Facebook live event
Do you have a question about the work of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee? Chair Pete Wishart MP will be answering your questions online on Facebook Live from 5pm.
Post your question on the event page, and come back on Wednesday to chat with Pete Wishart.
Further information
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