Photographer: Chris J. Ratcliffe / Bloomberg
Photographer: Chris J. Ratcliffe / Bloomberg
Uber Technologies Inc. lost. the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on the rights of its drivers, in a special decision that threatens the company’s business model in the country.
The judges ruled that Uber drivers are “workers” who are entitled to rights such as minimum wage, holiday pay and rest. The court said the terms of communication were set by Uber and that working conditions were under the company’s control.
“Uber drivers’ working time is not limited to the time they drive passengers, ”Judge George Leggatt said in a summary of the ruling. It also “includes any time a driver is logged into the app and is ready and willing to accept trips. ”
The decision is the end of the road for Uber ‘s five – year fight over the status of its drivers and another stop for Uber in the UK, which is home to the company’ s largest European market share. Last year, Uber had to fight to keep its license running in London after the transport regulator complained about safety concerns.
The employment dispute will now return to a special tribunal, which will decide how much to reward the 25 drivers who brought the case in 2016. Around 1,000 similar claims against the company, which had remained until after the rule, also proceeded.
Uber’s fight over drivers ’employment rights extends beyond its global activity. In their home state of California, drivers are demanding a ballot measure agreed last year as independent contractors. Meanwhile, policymakers in the European Union are expected to publish proposals for improving working conditions for gig economy workers later this month.