Dutch court: Uber drivers covered by taxi labour agreement
Dutch court: Uber drivers covered by taxi labour agreement
An Uber sign is displayed inside a car in Chicago, on May 15, 2020. (Nam Y. Huh / AP)
THE HAGUE, Netherlands -
A court in Amsterdam ruled Monday that Uber drivers fall under the Dutch taxi drivers' collective labour agreement -- meaning they are entitled to the same employment benefits as taxi drivers. Uber said it would appeal the ruling.
The Amsterdam civil court said in a statement that three judges ruled that the legal relationship between Uber and its drivers "conforms to all the characteristics of an employment contract."
The Dutch workers' organization that brought the case called the decision a major victory for Uber drivers.
"This verdict shows what we have been saying for years: Uber is an employer and the drivers are employees, so Uber has to abide by the taxi traffic collective labour agreement," Zakaria Boufangacha, vice-chair of the Federation of Dutch Unions, said in a statement.
Uber, which has 4,000 drivers in Amsterdam, decried the ruling as a blow to the gig economy model.
"We are disappointed with this decision because we know that the overwhelming majority of drivers wish to remain independent," said Maurits Schonfeld, Uber's General Manager Northern Europe.
He added that drivers "don't want to give up their freedom to choose if, when and where to work. In the interest of drivers, we will therefore appeal the court's decision, whilst also continuing to improve platform work in the Netherlands."
An Uber spokesman said that nothing would change for drivers using the app as the company appeals the ruling.
The court ordered Uber to pay the FNV 50,000 euros (US$59,000) in damages for not adhering to the collective labour agreement.
FNV said the ruling means Uber drivers are entitled to more pay and have more rights if they are ill or have their employment terminated.
The Dutch court decision follows a similar ruling by Britain's High Court in February that said Uber drivers are "workers" and not self-employed.
Personal finance contributor Christopher Liew explains how First Home Savings Accounts work, who’s eligible for the program, and outlines the contribution rules.
Opening a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a great way to fund your child’s future education. Personal finance contributor Christopher Liew outlines the contribution rules for RESPs and explains how to find out how much contribution room you have left so that you can avoid penalties.
If you're like many would-be vehicle shoppers, you may be wondering when prices will finally drop. The good news is that the vehicle market seems to be finally stabilizing, says personal finance contributor Christopher Liew.
Personal finance contributor Christoper Liew shares the latest information about who’s eligible for the grocery rebate, when they can expect their payments, and some helpful tips on making the most of your grocery rebate.
As a former financial advisor, I’ve always been fascinated by how the 'culture' around money differs from one region of the world to another,' writes personal finance commentator Christopher Liew. 'Today, I’ll outline some of the interesting money habits that I’ve noticed while travelling the globe, starting with some of our own!'
With the rising cost of food and living expenses, you might be considering asking for a raise. On CTVNews.ca, personal finance contributer Christopher Liew explains how inflation could determine the extent of your raise, as well as other key factors.
On CTVNews.ca, personal finance contributor Christopher Liew explores some of the top sources of passive income in Canada, for those looking to increase their earnings.
Getting an income tax refund can be a happy bonus for your household budget, but an unexpected tax bill can be an unpleasant surprise, especially if you don't have the cash on hand to pay it.
An Uber sign is displayed inside a car in Chicago, on May 15, 2020. (Nam Y. Huh / AP)
