By Alexander Cornwell

DUBAI (Reuters – Deliveroo suspended plans to reduce rider earnings in United Arab Emirates following a strike of foreign delivery workers from the Gulf Arab states over conditions that disrupted service on Sunday.

Deliveroo sent an email Monday to restaurants, which was seen by Reuters. It stated that it had paused what it called a change in the rider fee structure, and would continue engaging with riders throughout the coming weeks and months.

Amazon-backed restaurant chain informed the rest of the world that Amazon riders had struck and refused to show up for their deliveries. The firm also stated in an email that they would protect the earnings of Deliveroo riders to keep the market competitive.

A Deliveroo spokesperson told Reuters the company had stopped all changes. The company would also work with riders in order to create a system that is fair for all and serves their best interests.

Posts on social media showed large amounts of Delivery drivers dressed in Deliveroo teal uniforms, striking against the reductions in pay and long working hours in Dubai.

Some postings claimed that earnings were cut by 15% to $8.75 dirhams ($2.38) per hour while shifts were increased to 12 hours.

Reuters couldn’t immediately confirm the authenticity of these posts. Requests for comment from the UAE’s authorities were not answered by them.

The Deliveroo spokesperson stated that the initial intent of the announcement was “to propose a better-rounded structure to rider earnings and other incentives.” She did not provide details.

“It’s clear that our initial intentions were not clear, and we listen to the riders.”

Human rights activists and human rights organizations have criticized the UAE and Gulf States for their treatment of low-paid migrants who constitute a significant portion of the workforce.

Blue collar workers are the most at risk of being exploited. They often live in cramped conditions and work long hours after having been paid large recruitment fees.

Some users of social media were quick to call for Deliveroo to be boycotted and others encouraged tipping delivery drivers in response.

($1 = 3.6726 UAE dirham)