Uber has announced that by the end of 2021, it will sign up 20,000 drivers in the UK post-lockdown. This inclusion will boost the number of UK drivers to 90,000.
Recently, the company revealed that there has been 50% increase in trips since changes in the lockdown on 12 April which allowed pubs and restaurants to serve customers outdoors along with opening of non-essential shops. According to Uber, the demand for rides will increase in coming months once the restriction is going to ease further.
Jamie Heywood, Uber’s regional general manager for northern and eastern Europe, said: “As cities open up and people start moving again, we are encouraging 20,000 new drivers to sign up.”
Supreme Court Rule
In February this year, the Supreme Court in its ruling said, Uber drivers are not self employed contractors, but workers and should get all the benefits as entitled. Initially, Uber muted out the reaction, and claimed the company it only applied to 25 drivers named in the case.
However, last month, Uber agreed giving its UK drivers a guaranteed minimum wage and pensions from 17 March.
Post ruling, all drivers working with Uber will be entitled to receive holiday time based on 12.07% of their total earnings.
According to the App Drivers & Couriers Union, there has not much changes and claim Uber only agreed to pay. This failure to comply with the Supreme Court means that Uber driver will still short change the tune of 50%.
Even after the challenge, the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy failed to take any action.
According to the statement from BEIS, “The Uber Supreme Court judgment upheld employment status law as it stands, and Uber’s recent announcement to reclassify all their drivers as workers is a positive step. It is for Uber to ensure that their new proposals meet the necessary legal requirements.”
When it comes to hiring of 20,000 drivers post-pandemic, Yaseen Aslam, president of the App Drivers & Couriers Union said: “Uber’s post-pandemic recruitment push will inevitably lead to increased driver poverty and rising urban congestion.”
He further said, “We urgently need capacity controls and enforcement of employment law, but the government has abdicated its fundamental responsibilities. Our union will continue to resist Uber’s brutal exploitation of people and communities.”