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Uber drivers in º£½ÇÊÓÆµ to get minimum wage and other benefits in move that could affect gig economy

The technology and transport firm says º£½ÇÊÓÆµ drivers will get holiday and pensions after a court ruling that they should be treated as workers

An Uber sign on a car(Image: PA)

Technology firm Uber has announced that drivers in the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ 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 º£½ÇÊÓÆµ employment law.

They will be in line for the benefits, which are set to take effect from Wednesday.

Jamie Heywood, Uber’s regional general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, described it as “an important day” for drivers in the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ, but the company was criticised by trade unions, who said “Uber had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do the right thing” after a long-running legal battle.

It comes a month after the Uber firm lost a legal battle in the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ, begun in 2016, over drivers’ 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’ rights such as holiday pay and compensation for lost pay.

Uber, which was launched in the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ in 2012, said its drivers will now earn at least the national living wage after accepting a trip request and after expenses.