Uber has lost a landmark tribunal decision in the UK, that will mean its drivers are now classified as workers, rather than self-employed contractors.
That means some 30,000 drivers in England and Wales are now entitled to minimum wage, holiday pay, and paid rest breaks.
Uber has said it will appeal the decision, which ruled that it has acted unlawfully by classifying its drivers as self-employed.
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Uber drivers James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam (who no longer works for the company) argued that since Uber controlled their actions, that made them employees of the firm, meaning they were entitled to basic workers’ rights.
Representatives for Uber said during the case that its drivers are not like other workers as they are free to work for other companies.
Maria Ludkin, legal director at the GMB, which brought the case, said (via BBC News): “This is a monumental victory that will have a hugely positive impact on drivers… and for thousands more in other industries where bogus self-employment is rife.”
Jo Bertram, Uber’s UK manager, said: “Tens of thousands of people in London drive with Uber precisely because they want to be self-employed and their own boss.
“The overwhelming majority of drivers who use the Uber app want to keep the freedom and flexibility of being able to drive when and where they want.
“While the decision of this preliminary hearing only affects two people, we will be appealing it.”
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
