Last month, the court ruled that a group of Uber drivers who took the case to an employment tribunal were not hired independently because their activities were “rigidly defined and controlled by Uber”. The judge cited the company’s control over fares and how it dictates the contractual terms under which drivers perform their services. The Uber lawsuit was first filed by Yaseen Aslam and James Farrar in 2016, when the two men were driving to Uber.
The decision marked a significant defeat for Uber in the UK, where it was pressured by labor activists and transportation regulators. Uber has defended its controversial business model of treating its workers as independent contractors, while, more recently, it presents the addition of new benefits as a kind of middle ground.
As part of the electoral measure, Uber continues to treat its drivers as independent contractors with some new benefit concessions, including a guarantee of minimum earnings based on “commitment time” when a driver is fulfilling a ride or delivery request, but not the time they spend waiting for a show. Uber and other show companies have announced that they plan to promote similar laws in other states, as well as seek federal legislation in the United States to solidify their approach.