French courtroom orders Uber to pay some $18 mln to drivers, firm to attraction

By Tassilo Hummel

PARIS, Jan 20 (Reuters) – French courtroom on Friday ordered Uber to pay round 17 million euros ($18.43 million) in damages and misplaced salaries to a gaggle of drivers who argued they need to have been handled like workers relatively than self-employed, each events to the case advised Reuters.

“It is a enormous victory after an extended authorized battle which began in 2020”, mentioned lawyer Stephane Teyssier who represented the 139 drivers that had introduced the case earlier than the Conseil des Prud’hommes labour courtroom in Lyon.

The courtroom determined that the work relationship of his purchasers ought to have been certified as employment contracts, which implies that Uber ought to have reimbursed them for skilled bills like the acquisition of a automobile, gasoline and extra time, he added.

Uber mentioned it will attraction, including: “We’re decided to make progress on the problem of platform staff’ rights and are satisfied that the precise means ahead is thru social dialogue with drivers’ representatives.”

The ruling solely applies to the previous and doesn’t imply the drivers essentially have worker standing going ahead, Teyssier mentioned.

The problem of the way to qualify the authorized standing of gig economic system staff on on-line platforms in sectors like ride-hailing or meals supply is being debated in lots of international locations.

Platforms argue that staff are impartial and might select how a lot and when work, whereas staff and unions typically argue they need to be given the identical advantages as workers as they rely upon the platforms to earn their dwelling.

The Uber spokesperson mentioned it was the corporate’s goal “to construct a mannequin that preserves the pliability they need whereas guaranteeing concrete enhancements of their working situations.”

In 2020, France’s high courtroom first acknowledged the precise of an Uber driver to be thought of an worker, a ruling that has affected the U.S. agency’s enterprise mannequin, requiring it to pay extra taxes and advantages to staff similar to paid holidays.

Earlier this month, Uber introduced a landmark sector take care of drivers in France, guaranteeing a minimal of seven.65 euros internet ($8.25) per experience, organising a precedent after months of bargaining talks. ($1 = 0.9223 euros) (Reporting by Tassilo Hummel; Enhancing by Aurora Ellis)