In most European countries, couriers are self-employed contractors that partner with food-delivery platforms. Some policymakers and unions have challenged the “gig economy” model of engaging independent workers, calling for a reclassification of independent platform workers as employees. We were asked to review how couriers and the economy would be affected if new laws were introduced that curtail flexible work.
Based on a novel pan-European survey of more than 16,000 couriers, we investigated the benefits and value of flexibility for local delivery couriers who work as self-employed contractors, when and where they want.
We find that delivery work is a complementary activity besides other jobs or studies for 72 per cent of couriers; couriers value and actively seek flexible work and most couriers prefer a flexible work model over fixed employment. Flexibility drives the entire ecosystem and benefits consumer. Food delivery platforms in Europe partnered per week with over 375,000 couriers, carrying out over 19m deliveries. We estimate that the food delivery ecosystem in Europe generated around EUR 20bn revenues in 2020. Abandoning the flexible work model would lead to inefficiencies and harm the entire ecosystem, i.e. consumers, couriers, restaurants and platforms. Up to 75,000 European couriers could be entirely discouraged from the workforce, putting up to EUR 800m in earnings at stake.
