As the Irish appetite for on-demand take away food gets bigger, so too does the presence of the food delivery platform Deliveroo.
It works with over 1,200 restaurants and more than 1,000 riders in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway.
The gig economy has raised concerns about workers rights. Riders do not enjoy benefits such as sick pay or annual leave, but tech platforms like Deliveroo say riders enjoy the flexibility of choosing when and for how long they work.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, Deliveroo Ireland's new General Manager Michael Healy said the company would welcome progressive legislation that would allow Deliveroo to end the trade off between security and flexibility.
"Many governments are looking at this space and there is a variety of different forms that potential regulation could take, but there are quite progressive forms that are actually quite supportive of Deliveroo's business models," he said.
"If I was to point to the mobility bill that's going through the French parliament currently, this would allow Deliveroo offer some of the benefits of full time work without taking some of the flexibility that our riders value.
"So for example, we could offer sick pay or holiday pay on a basis of services delivered, as opposed to hours worked, and still allow our riders to retain flexibility," Mr Healy explained.
Deliveroo riders are paid on a per delivery basis and the fee is variable on the basis of distance. There is also a different fee depending on the type of vehicle used to deliver food.
Deliveroo does not provide delivery vehicles such as bicycles or scooters to riders because they are classed as self-employed. The company cannot provide such equipment without falling foul of employment law.
Mr Healy said Deliveroo works with partners across the country to provide discounted equipment which riders can avail of.
Equally, the company is not involved in the tax affairs of riders, who have to register as self-employed.
"We would welcome progressive legislation that would allow us to end the trade off between security and flexibility. We have been working with the government in Ireland and other countries to set out that agenda, and we'd advocate for that to be set in legislation as well."
Revenue at Deliveroo's Irish operations soared by over 80% in 2018. The company plans further expansion in the Irish market by adding 300 more restaurants to the app, and a similar number of riders by the end of the year.
It is also rolling out a 'click and collect' service, and expanding delivery hours until 3am in Dublin, but riders who work until 3am will not be paid more.
"We don't do that, but the way it works, the demand is there so earnings tend to be high for riders at that time," Mr Healy said.
