Sunday May 1, International Workers’ Day, “hundreds of Deliveroo delivery workers have gone on strike in Dubai, protesting wage cuts and extended working hours” decided by their employer, reports the pan-Arab media Al-Jazeera.
An initiative all the more exceptional as strikes and trade unions are prohibited in the United Arab Emirates.
Many videos of these stationary motorcycle delivery men, almost all of foreign origin, wearing the turquoise outfit of the British meal delivery company, have circulated on social networks.
Deliveroo driver Naeem Iqbal criticized his employers on Twitter. His words are echoed by Al-Jazeera :
“They don’t give us our basic rights according to the law and cut the tariffs so gas prices go up every month […] We are humans, not mules.”
Deliveroo backed off
Delivery workers believe Deliveroo’s policy is in breach of the emirate’s Labor Code, which says the maximum working time for an employee is eight hours a day, or 48 hours in a six-day week . However, the company planned to make them work up to thirteen hours a day, some already working eleven or twelve hours daily, indicates the pan-Arab media.
In addition, the deliverers explain that their employer had informed them of the drop in the delivery price, from 10.25 (2.64 euros) to 8.75 dirhams (2.25 euros). Employees also point fingers “non-payment of severance pay, health insurance and visa fees”.
It was too much for these shadow workers, who decided to go on strike, despite threatening messages from their superiors urging them to resume their deliveries as soon as possible, on this last weekend of Ramadan.
The movement ended up paying off the next day. Deliveroo announced on Monday May 2 that it was waiving the planned price reduction and increased working time.