No pay increase for Bolt food delivery drivers, despite strike

Couriers working with Bolt food, either as independent contractors or as agency employees, will not be earning more money per delivery, a company spokesperson has said.

Bolt food couriers striked two weeks ago to protest against their poor pay and decreasing earnings.

As a direct reaction to the action, a Bolt spokesperson had said the company is “working towards optimising the pricing” and that this should have a positive impact on courier earnings within the next few days.

But, contacted on Tuesday, a Bolt spokesperson said the company does not currently plan to change the earnings formula.

Bolt pays a €2.60 basic delivery fee and a further fee of 40c per kilometre driven. Bonuses are also sometimes given. However, these are rarely more than €1 and usually hover around 50c.

Although the pay structure has not changed, couriers can now pick up several orders at once, making it possible to complete more deliveries in less time, the Bolt spokesperson said.

Bolt does not directly hire couriers. Instead, they subcontract the job, either to independent contractors or, as is the case for the majority of drivers, by obtaining them through employment agencies.

However, since the...