Gig economy: Committee questions DPD and Parcelforce over reported "fines for illness"

The Work and Pensions Committee has today written to DPD and Parcelforce amid reports that their self-employed couriers are charged £250 if they are unable to work a day, for example due to illness, and cannot find cover:

Rt Hon Frank Field MP to Gary-Simpson of Parcelforce

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/work-and-pensions/Correspondence/Frank-Field-to-Gary-Simpson-Parcelfoce-7-03-2017.pdf

Rt Hon Frank Field MP to Dwain McDonald DPD

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/work-and-pensions/Correspondence/Frank-Field-to-Dwain-McDonald-DPD-7-03-2017.pdf

The Committee has recently taken evidence from a series of other distribution / courier companies such as Uber, Hermes, Amazon and Deliveroo, on their employment practices. Full inquiry details and evidence so far: 

Self-employment and the gig economy