Nearly 400 drivers who have delivered parcels for Amazon have joined a legal battle seeking compensation from the internet retail giant over employment rights, The Independent can reveal.
Legal firm Leigh Day launched a claim on behalf of one driver just months ago - but the number who have signed up to take action has now swelled to 392.
Drivers who distribute goods to addresses for Amazon via “delivery service partner” firms are classed as self-employed, denying them employee rights such as the minimum wage and holiday pay.
One driver involved in the legal action disclosed how he endured gruelling shifts delivering up to around 300 packages a day and faced more than a month off work without pay when he fell ill. He accused Amazon of treating drivers as “slaves”, urging it instead to recognise them as employees.
Leigh Day believes at least 3,000 drivers could be entitled to an average of 10,500 in compensation each year they have delivered parcels for the firm founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos - meaning Amazon might have to pay out millions of pounds.
The internet giant - which posted a 5.8billion profit in the first three months of last year - has previously faced allegations that some drivers working for courier firms delivering its goods have taken home less than the minimum wage.
The legal action follows a landmark ruling against Uber last year in which the Supreme court decided the app’s drivers should be classified as workers and entitled to rights.
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