Over 70,000 Uber drivers in the United Kingdom will be treated as workers, earning at least a minimum wage and getting paid holidays and pension. Drivers would start getting benefits without retaining the right to flexible hours. Last month, the UK supreme court dismissed Uber’s appeal against a 2016 landmark employment tribunal ruling that its drivers should be classified as workers. Uber argued that drivers were “independent contractors” who do not work for Uber, but enter into a contract with passengers when the latter books a ride. The supreme court shot down this logic, stating that attempts to draft contracts that sidestep employment protections are unenforceable. When the apex court delivered the judgment, Uber had argued that the ruling applied to only a small number of drivers directly involved in the case and that the court’s findings would not apply to all UK drivers. It has reversed its position now, saying that drivers would get at least legal minimum wage, after expenses and holiday time at 12.07% of earnings, paid out on a fortnightly basis. Drivers will also be automatically enrolled into a pension plan which is funded by Uber and the drivers. “Drivers will automatically be enrolled into a pension plan with contributions from Uber alongside driver contributions, setting drivers up over the long term,” Uber said. Benefits will also include free insurance in case of sickness and injury and the existing parental payments. The company said it consulted thousands of drivers over the last several weeks who said they wanted…
