Delivery giant Just Eat has announced it is to axe 1,700 jobs as it ceases to employ its delivery riders and drivers.
Instead it will use entirely gig economy workers to deliver food in the UK, as opposed to the hybrid system of employees and self-employed workers.
A further 170 people working in Just Eat’s operational department are also impacted.
Delivery employees have been given six weeks notice with pay and it is understood office staff will begin a process of redundancy and may be moved to other parts of the business.
While the company could not provide Sky News with the number of delivery riders and drivers it uses in the UK, it’s understood only a small percentage of them were employed.
The cuts come after the company saw a 9% slump in customer numbers last year as diners returned to pubs and restaurants.