COURIER firm Evri has agreed to add insurance-backed sick leave and up to £950 festive support to its “industry-first” pay deal for so-called self-employed-plus (SE+) workers, the company and GMB union announced today.

The deal builds on their existing access to 28 days’ paid holiday, guaranteed national minimum wage, pension contributions, parental leave and additional flexible benefits agreed brokered by the union and Evri in 2019.

GMB lead organiser Gill Ogilvie said: “Securing sickness payments for thousands of couriers is a huge step forward.

“Once again GMB has shown the difference unions can make in the modern world of work.”

Evri CEO Martijn De Lange added: “We’ve been proud to lead the industry in offering self-employed workers greater protection and benefits since 2019.

“This latest ground-breaking deal is a significant step forwards demonstrating our commitment to supporting couriers financially and with a raft of protection and benefits, including sick pay for our SE+ workers in an industry first.”