Cost-of-living

Gig economy workers say they're having to make changes as orders drop and their wages stagnate.

A spokesperson told BBC Newsbeat it was proud to offer flexible work to 90,000 riders in the UK and that it had recently signed an agreement with the GMB Union to guarantee riders the national living wage. "And for us to take a day off, that means the next day we have to then go even harder than what we would normally. "Working in the snow, working in bad weather conditions is a risk," he says. [held a demonstration calling for better pay and safety](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-56664668) and Deliveroo responded to say the vast majority were happy with the firm. The TUC and other unions want to see greater protections for workers like Shaf and Atlanta who they say miss out on basic working rights. Since the cost-of-living crisis hit, "we're working a lot more for a lot less," he says. He says he puts pressure on himself to work a lot more - often meaning he has to weigh up his safety and wellbeing against his need for income. "I delivered in a car for three years and now I've swapped to an e-bike," the 22-year-old says. "And being on a bike now, obviously not having the extra expenses, has really made a difference." "I was working as a courier most of my 20s, and now I haven't had a holiday in seven years." "You can make the money, I think you've just got to put in the hours," says Atlanta. It's meant luxuries like takeaways have become a rarity for many, and you might be more likely to catch the bus than take a taxi.