BACK PAY: ‘Uber has not promised to properly compensate its drivers’ says legal firm Leigh Day

A legal firm has welcomed Uber’s first steps in offering drivers basic workers’ benefits, but has highlighted a lack of promise over back pay to drivers on the platform.

Ride-hailing operator Uber has introduced new workers’ rights to over 70,000 private hire drivers starting today.

Thousands of drivers in the UK will be treated as workers, earning at least the National Living Wage when driving with Uber, be paid for holiday time and also be automatically enrolled into a pension plan if they are eligible.

The news follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling last month which handed victory to Uber drivers in their battle for basic workers’ rights.

Uber says the package offered to drivers is based around a consultation the operator conducted over the last several weeks, which found drivers wanted additional benefits but without any loss of flexibility.

Law firm Leigh Day, who represents more than 4,000 Uber drivers in workers’ rights claims, was ‘pleased’ with Uber’s decision to recognise drivers as workers, but highlighted there was no promise of back pay from the private hire operator.

Nigel Mackay, a partner in the employment team at Leigh Day, said: “Leigh Day is pleased that Uber finally recognises that all of its UK drivers are workers. However, we will be looking closely at the detail of what Uber is offering to its drivers to ensure it complies with the Supreme Court’s findings and UK employment legislation.

“So far, Uber has not promised to properly compensate its drivers for its past failure to provide paid holiday and National Minimum wage and our claim for back pay on behalf of 4,000 Uber drivers will continue.

“This is an important decision, not just for the Uber drivers who have been fighting for workers’ rights for over five years, but for the whole of the gig economy. It is our hope that other companies using a similar business model take note and recognise that the people working for them should be given the basic rights such as holiday pay and the National Minimum wage."