DUBAI - DUBAI - Deliveroo has suspended plans that would cut rider earnings in the United Arab Emirates after a strike by delivery workers in the Gulf Arab state disrupted services on Sunday.

In an email to restaurants on Monday, seen by Reuters, Deliveroo said it was pausing what it called a proposed change in rider fee structure and that it would engage with riders over the weeks and months ahead.

A day earlier, the Amazon-backed firm informed restaurants that "riders are striking and refusing to attend their shifts or deliver orders" and said in an email that it would "protect Deliveroo rider earnings to remain the most competitive in the market".

A Deliveroo spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the company was halting all changes and that it would work with delivery riders to ensure a structure that works for everyone and has their "best interest at heart".        

      

Some posts said earnings were being cut by about 15% to 8.75 dirhams ($2.38) an hour, while shifts were extended to 12 hours.         

Reuters could not immediately verify the posts.              

"Our initial intention with the announcement was to propose a more well-rounded structure for rider earnings in addition to other incentives," the Deliveroo spokesperson said without providing details. 

"It is clear that some of our original intentions have not been clear and we are listening to riders.”

In response to the Deliveroo strike, some users on social media called for a boycott of the firm while others encouraged people to tip delivery workers.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell and Lina Najem; Editing by Bernadette Baum)