Social entrepreneurs fight to make gig work fairer, greener

A Wings delivery courier hands over an order to a customer in Finsbury Park, London. — Handout courtesy of Rich Mason/Reuters

DURBAN: When Londoner Rich Mason signed up as a bicycle food delivery rider in 2017, he found the long hours, poor pay and lack of communication from management “jaw-dropping” – so he started his own delivery app instead.

One of his proudest moments was in June this year when his phone pinged with the first order on his Wings platform, which he says pays bicycle couriers above minimum wage, is an eco-friendly alternative to motorbikes and supports family-run restaurants.