One issue is that in the UK, there is a tax called "National Insurance" or NI, which was originally intended to fund unempoyment benefits. As an employee, you h

One issue is that in the UK, there is a tax called "National Insurance" or NI, which was originally intended to fund unempoyment benefits. As an employee, you have to pay a certain % of your wages. But the employer also has to pay a percentage of your salary, and they can't just deduct it from your wage. So, for Uber drivers on a minimum wage (£7.50 an hour), the 13.8% that Uber will pay will bump that up to approx £9 an hour that Uber has to pay. Then they will also require Employer's Liability Insurance (as the drivers are employees), will have to offer pension provision (legally required for all full-time employees in the UK), etc.