WEDNESDAY, 13th October, 2021: A law firm has made plans to launch a group action against Amazon for delivery drivers over employee rights.
The firm, Leigh Day has claimed that drivers hired via third party delivery companies to make deliveries for the eCommerce giant should be given the same rights enjoyed by the employees of Amazon. 
Leigh Day said currently the drivers in question are classed as being self-employed, which meant they were not entitled to earn minimum wage or holiday pay. Leigh Day further added that drivers making deliveries on behalf of Amazon for its "Delivery Service Partners" were not entitled to National Minimum Wage or an employment contract.
The law firm says it had already begun legal action on behalf of two drivers and is seeking others to join a group action.
Leigh Day, which brought, and won, a landmark case on behalf of Uber drivers for workers' rights in February, claims that at least three thousand drivers could potentially be owed more than a hundred million pounds in compensation.
It believes that if Amazon tells the drivers how they should work, and how they fit into the business, then they should have more rights.
The law firm claims drivers are given estimated timings between deliveries via an app which they have to meet. However, Amazon had disputed this claim, saying the routing app provides guidance and it is up to drivers whether to follow the suggested route.
Kate Robinson, a Leigh Day employment solicitor, said: "It appears that Amazon is short-changing drivers making deliveries on their behalf.
"Drivers delivering for Amazon have to work set shifts and book time off, yet Amazon claim they are self-employed."
Ms. Robinson stressed that it was "time for Amazon to stop putting profit above people".