09 February 2018

Under fire for shoddy employment practices, 'gig' employer Uber has launched a driver feedback programme instead of providing its drivers with legal workers' rights.

In 2016, the Central London Employment Tribunal found that two Uber drivers - James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam - were legally 'workers' and not 'self employed' and thus eligible for basic workers' rights like the minimum wage and holiday pay.

Uber's argument that its drivers were independent contractors was scathingly described by the judges as being founded on "fictions, twisted language and even brand new terminology".

"The notion that Uber in London is a mosaic of 30,000 small businesses linked by a common ‘platform’ is to our minds faintly ridiculous," their judgment stated.

The Employment Appeals Tribunal later upheld the Employment Tribunal's decision.

Despite these clear indications that Uber would be in breach of the law if it did not ensure that all those that meet the legal classification of 'workers' are in receipt of workers' rights, it has made no move to offer the minimum wage to its thousands of drivers.

Instead, it has responded to recent hits to its reputation - including having its London license revoked - by setting up new "driver advisory groups" in each city in order to take feedback from drivers on what they 'need and want'.