Uber vs Suva in Swiss driver employee ruling
- 7 years ago
In another setback for Uber, a Swiss insurance agency has ruled the ride-hailing app’s drivers are employees, which means the company would have to pay social security contributions for them.
The ruling came from Suva – a public sector provider of work accident insurance – which is mandatory in Switzerland.
According to a report by Swiss broadcaster SRF, Suva concluded the drivers are staff because they faced consequences for not meeting Uber rules and could not set prices and payment terms independently.
Uber insists its drivers are freelance contractors which has led to accusations it is bypassing national labour protection standards.
It said it will challenge the ruling, which it claims applied to just one driver.
Trade union representatives hailed the ruling, but local Uber boss Rasoul Jalali pointed out to SRF that the Suva decision was not the final word.
“If we cannot find an agreement with Suva, we will have to rely on the courts,” he said.
The company is also appealing against a British employment tribunal ruling in October 2016 that it can no longer treat its UK drivers as self-employed.
The ruling came from Suva – a public sector provider of work accident insurance – which is mandatory in Switzerland.
According to a report by Swiss broadcaster SRF, Suva concluded the drivers are staff because they faced consequences for not meeting Uber rules and could not set prices and payment terms independently.
Uber insists its drivers are freelance contractors which has led to accusations it is bypassing national labour protection standards.
It said it will challenge the ruling, which it claims applied to just one driver.
Trade union representatives hailed the ruling, but local Uber boss Rasoul Jalali pointed out to SRF that the Suva decision was not the final word.
“If we cannot find an agreement with Suva, we will have to rely on the courts,” he said.
The company is also appealing against a British employment tribunal ruling in October 2016 that it can no longer treat its UK drivers as self-employed.