Technology firm Uber has announced that drivers in the 海角视频 are to get a guaranteed minimum wage, holiday pay and pensions.
The move will affect more than 70,000 drivers, who are now to be treated as workers under 海角视频 employment law.
They will be in line for the benefits, which are set to take effect from Wednesday.
Jamie Heywood, Uber鈥檚 regional general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, described it as 鈥渁n important day鈥 for drivers in the 海角视频, but the company was criticised by trade unions, who said 鈥淯ber had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do the right thing鈥 after a long-running legal battle.
It comes a month after the Uber firm lost a legal battle in the 海角视频, begun in 2016, over drivers鈥 status.
Drivers said they were workers whereas Uber operating companies said drivers were contractors, not workers.
The Supreme Court ruling defined Uber drivers as workers, prompting lawyers to say it meant they would be entitled to workers鈥 rights such as holiday pay and compensation for lost pay.
Uber, which was launched in the 海角视频 in 2012, said its drivers will now earn at least the national living wage after accepting a trip request and after expenses.
On average, its drivers earn 拢17 per hour in London and 拢14 in the rest of the 海角视频.
All drivers will receive holiday time based on 12.07% of their earnings, which will be paid out on a fortnightly basis.
They will be automatically enrolled in a pension scheme.
The drivers have been told of their new rights.
Uber has reportedly told the BBC it did not expect the change to result in higher fares.
London Uber drivers Yaseen Aslam and James Farrar originally brought claims against the firm, and were 鈥渢est claimants鈥 in the Supreme Court fight.
They welcomed Uber鈥檚 decision over pay and conditions, but said the firm had 鈥渁rrived to the table with this offer a day late and a dollar short, literally鈥.
In a joint statement, they said: 鈥淭he Supreme Court ruled that drivers are to be recognised as workers with entitlements to the minimum wage and holiday pay to accrue on working time from log on to log off, whereas Uber is committing only to these entitlements to accrue from time of trip acceptance to drop off.
鈥淭his means that Uber drivers will be still short-changed to the tune of 40-50%. Also, it is not acceptable for Uber to unilaterally decide the driver expense base in calculating minimum wage. This must be subject to collective agreement.鈥
Uber operating companies had appealed to the Supreme Court after losing three earlier rounds of the legal fight.
Employment tribunals and Court of Appeal judges had ruled against Uber 鈥 and Supreme Court judges unanimously dismissed Uber鈥檚 appeal.
GMB, the union for Uber drivers, says the company has finally done the right thing.
Mick Rix, GMB national officer, said: 鈥淯ber had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do the right thing, but finally they鈥檝e agreed to follow the ruling of the courts and treat their drivers as workers.鈥
He added: 鈥淕MB has consistently said we are willing to speak face to face to Uber about its treatment of drivers 鈥 our door remains open.
鈥淥ther gig economy companies should take note 鈥 this is the end of the road for bogus self employment.鈥
TUC general secretary Frances O鈥橤rady said it would 鈥渃heck the small print of this offer鈥, which it feels is 鈥渁 big step in the right direction鈥 from Uber.
She said that gig economy workers deserve to be treated with 鈥渄ignity at work, and to be given the same basic rights as everybody else鈥.
A spokesman for law firm Leigh Day, which represents more than 4,000 Uber drivers in workers鈥 rights claims, said: 鈥淭his is an important decision, not just for the Uber drivers who have been fighting for workers鈥 rights for over five years, but for the whole of the gig economy.鈥
He also claimed that drivers had yet to be properly compensated by Uber for its failure to provide paid holiday and the national minimum wage.
Mr Heywood said: 鈥淯ber drivers will receive an earnings guarantee, holiday pay and a pension, and will retain the flexibility they currently value.
鈥淯ber is just one part of a larger private-hire industry, so we hope that all other operators will join us in improving the quality of work for these important workers who are an essential part of our everyday lives.鈥
