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Uber drivers are "independent contractors," according to Uber, so the minimum wage laws don't apply to them.

by techsupporter 10y ago

antirez 10y ago
Understood, a bit too easy way to circumvent law IMHO. Thanks for the hint.
- Normal_gaussian 10y ago
  http://uk.businessinsider.com/british-uber-drivers-entitled-to-minimum-wage-holiday-pay-lodon-tribunal-rules-2016-10 http://uk.businessinsider.com/british-uber-drivers-entitled-... I don't know how easy it is to take to court in the US, but here it is beyond obvious what is an attempt at circumvention or not. When I was in Uni I did a lot of contract work, when you register for being self employed they run you through a great set of questions so that you know whether you are self employed or not in the eyes of the law and what your rights are. Of course most dodgy employers try to say 'you should register for self employment.. and I have to tell you to do so legally, but if you were to forget to do it you won't pay any tax and nobody will know, so don't forget to do it!' in the hopes that you don't bother yourself and don't end up finding out.
- giovannibajo1 10y ago
  Also in Italy, if you're free to work at any time of the day, for how many hours you want, you're easily classified as a contractor, not an employee. On top of that, taxi drivers are all independent contractors, not employees of dispatchers, so we can easily sat that Uber followed established best practice of labour arrangement in its market
  - antirez 10y ago
    True for certain kind of works, but for drivers or other non intellectual work that could be very hard to do. When in Italy you force the "contractor" POV, if the employee can show that she or he is not independent in the time of the work, location, and so forth (basically must show up), then the setup is illegal.
icebraining 10y ago
And not to taxi drivers either, I would point out, who are also considered independent contractors (like Uber drivers, they're in a lawsuit right now over the issue).
bboreham 10y ago
Although a recent ruling said that Uber drivers are employees in England and Wales. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37802386 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37802386
- brassic 10y ago
  As Uber was quick to remind its drivers, the ruling merely covered the two drivers who went to the employment tribunal.
  - couchand 10y ago
    Well that's shady.

Uber drivers are "independent contractors," according to Uber, so the minimum wage laws don't apply to them.

antirez 10y ago

Understood, a bit too easy way to circumvent law IMHO. Thanks for the hint.

Normal_gaussian 10y ago
http://uk.businessinsider.com/british-uber-drivers-entitled-to-minimum-wage-holiday-pay-lodon-tribunal-rules-2016-10 http://uk.businessinsider.com/british-uber-drivers-entitled-... I don't know how easy it is to take to court in the US, but here it is beyond obvious what is an attempt at circumvention or not. When I was in Uni I did a lot of contract work, when you register for being self employed they run you through a great set of questions so that you know whether you are self employed or not in the eyes of the law and what your rights are. Of course most dodgy employers try to say 'you should register for self employment.. and I have to tell you to do so legally, but if you were to forget to do it you won't pay any tax and nobody will know, so don't forget to do it!' in the hopes that you don't bother yourself and don't end up finding out.
giovannibajo1 10y ago
Also in Italy, if you're free to work at any time of the day, for how many hours you want, you're easily classified as a contractor, not an employee. On top of that, taxi drivers are all independent contractors, not employees of dispatchers, so we can easily sat that Uber followed established best practice of labour arrangement in its market
- antirez 10y ago
  True for certain kind of works, but for drivers or other non intellectual work that could be very hard to do. When in Italy you force the "contractor" POV, if the employee can show that she or he is not independent in the time of the work, location, and so forth (basically must show up), then the setup is illegal.

icebraining 10y ago

And not to taxi drivers either, I would point out, who are also considered independent contractors (like Uber drivers, they're in a lawsuit right now over the issue).

bboreham 10y ago

Although a recent ruling said that Uber drivers are employees in England and Wales. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37802386 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37802386

brassic 10y ago
As Uber was quick to remind its drivers, the ruling merely covered the two drivers who went to the employment tribunal.
- couchand 10y ago
  Well that's shady.