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Just East has announced plans to create 1,500 jobs in Liverpool by the end of this year as part of expansion of its new agency worker model for couriers.

The food delivery giant has launched 'Scoober' in the North West city - the third º£½ÇÊÓƵ city to see the new model rolled out following London in November last year and Birmingham in February.

According to Just Eat, couriers contracted through the model are entitled to hourly pay, minimum/living wage, pension contributions and certain statutory benefits including holiday pay and sick pay. All workers will receive training and will be covered by "relevant insurance".

Couriers are also provided with e-bikes or e-mopeds, and branded clothing and equipment.

The Amsterdam-headquartered firm said the move has already created almost 2,000 jobs - and it hopes to roll it out to more cities in due course.

Andrew Kenny, Just Eat º£½ÇÊÓƵ MD, said: “We recognise our responsibility to provide couriers with the best possible opportunities and we’re delighted that almost 2,000 jobs have already been created as part of our worker model.

"We’ve reached this milestone significantly ahead of schedule and following a positive response in London and Birmingham, we’re excited to roll this out to Liverpool, creating 1,500 more roles this year.

"We believe giving couriers access to the benefits and security associated with a model like this is the right thing to do and we’re hugely ambitious to grow this further out across the º£½ÇÊÓƵ.”

Mr Kenny added that couriers will have the option to operate from a central hub, a space which they can also use to take breaks.

Just Eat said it already operates the model across 150 European cities.