A Madrid court ruled yesterday that couriers for online food delivery firm Deliveroo are company employees, not just freelancers, reports Reuters. The ruling paves the way for workers to demand a formal contract and corresponding benefits. Gig economy workers such as food couriers do not receive full employment benefits under current contracts in Spain. Deliveroo maintains its couriers are freelancers, however the Madrid court rejected that argument and said workers were subject to specific instructions and lacked the autonomy usually granted to independent contractors. Deliveroo said it would appeal the ruling. Last year, a Valencia Court ruled that a Deliveroo rider should have been treated as an employee and not as self-employed in what was first ruling over the rights of Deliveroo’s riders in Spain. Earlier this year, the EU Parliament approved new legislation  granting new rights for gig economy workers.