Uber Eats Delivery Drivers Reclassified as Employees: A Significant Move in the Gig Economy

On Friday, Uber announced that it will be appealing the decision made by the Commission for the Regulation of Employment Relationship (CAR) to reclassify three Uber Eats delivery drivers as salaried employees. The company stated this after a labor dispute between Uber and the three delivery drivers who questioned whether registering as self-employed on the platform was in compliance with the law and if their work should have been classified as that of an employee.

The committee determined that the freedom of the delivery drivers was limited and ordered them to be reclassified as salaried workers. However, Uber expressed regret at the outcome of the decision, stating that it was based on the specific circumstances of the three individuals and does not apply to all couriers. The company highlighted that thousands of independent couriers choose their app for the flexibility it provides in deciding when, where, and how much they work.

A spokesperson confirmed that Uber will be appealing the decision, which highlights ongoing discussions around worker classification in the gig economy. As the case moves to labor court, it will have implications not only for Uber Eats couriers but also for larger gig economy companies and how workers are classified in this sector.