This content is restricted to site members. If you are an existing user, please log in. New users may register below.
The UK Supreme Court has declared that Uber, a ride hailing service, must treat their drivers as workers as opposed to self-employed individuals. This decision comes after Uber appealed a ruling by an employment tribunal in 2016 which also sided with the drivers, classing them as workers. This means that drivers will be entitled to key rights under their new employment status such as minimum wage, rest breaks and holiday pay. Prior to this, drivers were classified as self-employed, ultimately leaving drivers with minimum protections at work. This has been hailed as a “landmark case” and could be set to have further implications for the gig economy in general. As part of this, Uber is likely to have reduced flexible arrangements and have to pay out higher sums to continue operating. Yaseen Aslam, President of the App Drivers and Couriers Union (ADCU), who initially brought the court case against the company in 2016, stated that he hoped this would “bring relief to so many workers in the gig economy who so desperately need it”. Mr. Aslam further criticised the Government for pledging to review the gig economy and consequently, doing “nothing to help” the workers. He expressed his hope that,
