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UK Supreme Court considers Uber drivers to be employees

2021-02-19T12:04:37.606Z


The UK court ruled that drivers have the right to a minimum wage and paid vacation. Thunderclap for Uber and digital platforms: the British Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the drivers could be considered as salaried " workers ", rejecting the appeal of the American car reservation giant whose business model in the United Kingdom could be upset. The highest British court unanimously ruled against Uber, putting an end to the case launched in 2016. Read also: Uber wants to crea


Thunderclap for Uber and digital platforms: the British Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the drivers could be considered as

salaried

"

workers

", rejecting the appeal of the American car reservation giant whose business model in the United Kingdom could be upset.

The highest British court unanimously ruled against Uber, putting an end to the case launched in 2016.

Read also: Uber wants to create a new status for its drivers in Europe

This decision means that Uber drivers, who were until then self-employed, should be entitled, for example, to a minimum wage and paid vacation, which could even snowball across all digital platforms and "

gig economy

”, the economy of odd jobs in the United Kingdom.

Uber had taken to the Supreme Court after repeatedly losing in court.

The company believed that drivers are self-employed, choosing their schedules and work locations, and sometimes collaborating on multiple applications at the same time.

"

We respect the decision of the Court,

" responded Jamie Heywood, Uber boss for Northern and Eastern Europe.

"

We are determined to do more and we will be consulting with all of our UK operating drivers to understand the changes they want to see

."

Uber, which is expected to say more about its intentions in the coming weeks, assures that the decision does not provide for all drivers to be automatically reclassified as workers.

The platform insists that the Supreme Court was ruling on the status of "

worker

" rather than that of "

employee

", whose rights are somewhat higher under British law.

Despite these nuances, justice has each time ruled in favor of a group of around twenty drivers who felt they were entitled to worker status, given the time spent connected to the application and the control exercised by the group, for example on their evaluation.

Deliveroo soon affected?

The Supreme Court ruled "

that by connecting to the Uber app in London, a driver in connection with the complaint is considered a worker when entering into a contract

".

The two Uber drivers who initiated the first complaint, James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam, told the BBC on Friday that they were "

delighted and relieved

".

This Supreme Court decision means that the drivers who lodged the complaint will be able to turn to a court for compensation.

In theory, other drivers could then ask the courts to obtain employee status.

The platform, which is not profitable on a global scale, could have no other choice but to increase its prices in the United Kingdom, even if it means losing market share if its competitors are not subject to these same rules.

Uber stock was down 3% on Wall Street in electronic trading before the market opened on Friday.

The GMB union called the decision a “

historic victory

”.

One of its representatives, Mick Rix, said on Twitter that it was a new "

nail in the coffin of those who seek to exploit the gig economy

".

The decision could spread oil for all digital platforms.

The deliverers of the meal delivery platform Deliveroo are trying before the London Court of Appeal to be able to benefit from a collective agreement.

For its part, Uber explains that it has changed its practices since the start of this affair.

Drivers can now choose when and where they drive and have free access to health insurance, as well as compensation for parental leave.

The platform also calls for the creation of a fund financed by the sector that would allow drivers to access assistance and social protection, such as being paid during their holidays.

Uber had a project to be able to replicate in Europe what it proposed in California.

Read also: The undocumented couriers of Uber Eats and Deliveroo, new convicts of meal delivery

Source: lefigaro

All business articles on 2021-02-19

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