Amazon is trotting out new advantages and better pay for a few of its drivers, the corporate introduced in a Tuesday afternoon press release. Specifically, it’s placing extra funding in the direction of its “Delivery Service Partners”, that are impartial companies that handle a fleet of automobiles and drivers underneath the Amazon banner in a franchise mannequin.

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The DSP program has generated greater than $26 billion in income for Amazon over the previous 4 years, the corporate wrote. “Investing in our DSPs means that we are continuing to invest in communities nationwide,” mentioned Parisa Sadrzadeh, an organization govt, within the assertion.

In complete, the corporate mentioned it’s placing a further $450 million in the direction of the DSP program. Newly funded advantages are set to incorporate an academic stipend for drivers in “participating DSPs” of as much as $5,250. There’s additionally now a 401(okay) plan possibility for U.S.-based DSP employees, which incorporates some Amazon help for employer matching contributions within the first yr. The firm additionally mentioned it’s dedicating some quantity of funds in the direction of charge will increase for drivers, although how a lot is unclear.

However, the announcement doesn’t specify whom the speed will increase apply to or how a lot they are going to be. There are greater than 3,500 DSPs globally in about 15 counties, using 275,000 drivers, in keeping with Amazon. So, it’s doubtless secure to imagine that any top-down charge will increase gained’t be similar from franchise to franchise. An Amazon spokesperson instructed Gizmodo the “rates are determined by the DSPs. The announcement from yesterday is not tied to the Amazon Flex delivery partners.”

The profit enhance leaves out Amazon Flex drivers, the employees whom the corporate contracts to make use of their very own private automobiles, principally to fill within the gaps of final mile deliveries. In March, Flex divers protested for higher pay in Los Angeles, amid report gasoline costs.

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Unlike Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Walmart which all additionally depend on contractors’ willingness to drive and preserve their very own automobiles, Amazon didn’t implement gasoline surcharges or greater driver pay to offset the burden of pricy fuel, in keeping with a report from CNBC.

Previously, Amazon additionally needed to pay almost $60 million in settlement cash in 2021 to Flex drivers, after the Federal Trade Commission sued the corporate over withholding employee ideas.