The Know Daily - Tuesday 13 February 2024

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Stargazers in India have reason to celebrate, as a tiger reserve has recently been designated the country’s first-ever Dark Sky Park. Only the fifth such park of its kind in Asia, the Pench Tiger Reserve will restrict artificial light pollution and give visitors the chance to “witness celestial wonders”, said the Times of India.

🥡 Takeaway timeout

Thousands of Deliveroo and Uber Eats drivers in the UK are gearing up for a Valentine's Day strike, pushing for better pay and conditions. 

What’s the story?
The action, which will impact four food apps, could involve “as many as 3,000 drivers and riders” between 5pm and 10pm on Wednesday, according to the BBC. The strike’s organisers, the grassroots group Delivery Job UK, hope to draw attention to the “low pay and insecure conditions” faced by drivers, “many of whom work on several delivery apps in parallel”, noted The Guardian.

In a post on X, Delivery Job UK said it hoped tomorrow’s strike would encourage customers to think about the conditions faced by workers.

What are drivers paid at present?
App-based delivery drivers are generally classified as self-employed contractors, meaning their employers are not legally required to pay them the statutory minimum wage of £10.42 an hour. 

This status was confirmed by a supreme court ruling in November 2023, which found that Deliveroo riders could not be considered employees because they “don’t have specified hours, can work for rival companies, and can appoint someone to work in their place”, explained Sky News.

Rodeo, an app which allows riders to compare their payments, has found that earnings were slashed in 2022 and 2023 despite high inflation. Deliveroo does not allow workers to upload their details, noted The Independent.

What have the companies said?
In a statement, Uber Eats said that the “vast majority” of couriers were “satisfied with their experience on the app”. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Deliveroo said that the platform “aims to provide riders with the flexible work riders tell us they value, attractive earning opportunities and protections”.