Alka Verma-
Published on: September 14, 2021 at 12:38 IST
A Court in Amsterdam on Monday ruled that the Uber drivers are employees rather than independent contractors.
The Court ordered Uber to treat their drivers same and also said that they have greater workers’ rights.
It is the latest victory for unions fighting for workers’ rights.
Earlier, this year only UK’s Supreme Court granted relief to more than 70,000 Uber drivers by providing them minimum wage, pension plan, paid vacation and many other such benefits.
In the same manner, this time the Amsterdam’s District Court favored Federation of Dutch Trade Unions and provided the same benefit to company’s 4,000 drivers.
Maurits Schönfeld, Uber’s General Manager for Northern Europe stated, “We are disappointed with this decision because we know that the overwhelming majority of drivers wish to remain independent.”
Further, he added, “Drivers don’t want to give up their freedom to choose if, when and where to work.”
The Court observed that the drivers working for Uber are bound with collective labor agreements and stated, “The legal relationship between Uber and these drivers meets all the characteristics of an employment contract.”
The FNV (Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging) said that it’s a huge victory and now the drivers will get more benefit.
“Due to the judge’s ruling, the Uber drivers are now automatically employed by Uber, as a result, they will receive more wages and more rights in the event of dismissal or illness, for example,” stated Zakaria Boufangacha, FNV’s Deputy Chairman.
The company said that they will appeal this decision and for now they don’t have any plans to employ drivers in Netherlands.
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