Dublin food delivery riders are going on strike this evening as part of an international protest against falling pay rates.
The planned action will coincide with similar demonstrations in the UK and the US.
A group of riders will meet at the Spire on Dublin's O'Connell Street at 5pm and say they will switch off their delivery apps between 5pm and 10pm.
Riders in Galway and Cork are also set to join the protest.
English Language Students’ Union of Ireland Labour Rights' Officer Fiachra Ó Luain told Newstalk Breakfast pay rates have halved since the pandemic.
"It's happening in the USA, it's happening in the UK and riders across the world are saying, 'Enough is enough'," he said.
"They've seen their basic pay drop by 50% since the middle of the pandemic [in] 2021.
"The number don't jive anymore in terms of the cost of living crisis."
'Dynamic pricing'
Mr Ó Luain said algorithms - known as dynamic pricing - are pitting riders against each other.
"They are designed to do what employers and some business owners have tried to do manually for many years - see how much they can get out of the workers," he said.
"Now with AI, the algorithms have actually super-charged this by seeing how many people are in one place at one time, available to work, and pitting them against each other."
Mr Ó Luain said basic payment for a delivery has dropped from €4.29 before 2021 to as low as €1 now.
"People are being asked to risk life and limb, go across the city... the algorithms are incentivising risk," he said.
"During the Dublin riots riders were actually being asked to go right into Parnell Street and the price went way up to about €20 to deliver some food.
"It's really, really dangerous, it's a blood sport at this stage".
A spokesperson for Deliveroo said they took the decesion to close down operations as soon as the protests broke out last November.
Working time
Mr Ó Luain said companies claim their riders get minimum wage - but the workers say different.
"The time that is calculated as working time is between the restaurant and the customer," he said.
"But that doesn't include the wait time, doesn't include the time that they have to go and collect to food.
"So, basically what could be an hour's work is calculated as about 20 minutes work.
"Very often people are really making about €2, €3, or €4 per hour".
Mr Ó Luain said riders are encouraged to invest in their bikes and equipment "so they're caught in this sector".
He added that a lot of students have limited options as they can only work 20 hours per week.
Deliveroo response
A Deliveroo spokesperson told Newstalk they offer workers flexibility.
“Deliveroo aims to provide riders with the flexible work riders tell us they value, attractive earning opportunities and protections," they said.
It said its rider retention rates are high with the majority of riders satisfied to work with them.
The company said it has a voluntary partnership agreement with a trade union, which includes annual discussions on pay.
"We are pleased to also be able to offer riders free insurance, sickness cover, financial support when riders become new parents and a range of training opportunities," the statement added.
The company said it is "constantly" looking for new ways to improve the way it works with riders and that riders are paid for each delivery they complete.
