Gig workers against new Uber proposal

Uber Technologies has recently proposed that Canadian provincial governments impose new regulations on app-based gig employers to accrue self-directed benefit funds that can be dispersed to drivers for various purposes such as vision care, dental, etc. This proposal is the latest news in an ongoing battle Uber drivers have had with the service as the workers who are currently classified as independent contractors, would like to be considered employees.

An Ottawa employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP comments on Uber’s proposal to the Canadian Press.

“If Uber workers were considered employees it would have to offer minimum wage, vacation pay and protected, parental and medical leave. Workers would be able to access compensation in the event of workplace injuries and would get unemployment benefits,” the lawyer states.

The lawyer goes on to explain, “Uber realizes that the way they’re misclassifying drivers as contractors when they’re really employees is not necessarily working out, and so they are now spending the time to get the government involved to change the law so that they can kind of have their cake and eat it too.”

Samfiru Tumarkin is currently pursuing a class-action lawsuit against Uber regarding the classification of employee v. contractor.