Uber drivers are employees of the company, and not self-employed contractors, the Amsterdam District Court ruled on September 13, in a case filed by the Federation of Dutch Trade Unions (FNV), according to a Reuters report. FNV had argued that Uber’s 4,000 drivers in Amsterdam are employees of a taxi company, and demanded benefits in line with the taxi sector, the report added. The ride-hailing company was disappointed with the decision and was planning to appeal against it, Reuters reported. The world has marched swiftly towards a gig economy in the last decade but it remains ignorant of gig workers who toil without labour protections or fair wages. Uber, which many consider being at the heart of the economic model, has come under severe criticism over the treatment of its workers. It has led to several challenges, legal and social, being mounted all over the world to improve the working conditions of gig workers. The latest order is in favour of gig workers and could have a ripple effect across the world. What did the court say in its verdict? "The legal relationship between Uber and these drivers meets all the characteristics of an employment contract," read the ruling. The Dutch court affirmed that Uber drivers fall under the collective labour agreement for taxi transportation. The decision will result in a wage increase for workers and provide entitlements such as sick pay, and severance, TechCrunch explained. The judges imposed a fine of 50,000 euros for failing to implement the terms…
