Court Lets Unions Turn Uber into Old-School Taxi Service
October 25, 2022
New Zealand’s employment court ruled on Tuesday that the drivers were employees, not independent contractors. While the ruling applies specifically to the case of four drivers, the court noted that it may have wider implications for drivers across the country.
The court “does not have jurisdiction to make broader declarations of employment status” so all Uber drivers “do not, as a result of this judgment, instantly become employees”, chief judge Christina Inglis wrote. The new measures will come into effect from 12.01 on Friday 7 August. Uber’s push into patient transport renews calls for gig economy reform
She continued, however: “It may well have broader impact, particularly where, as here, there is apparent uniformity in the way in which the companies operate, and the framework under which drivers are engaged.”
Employment status is the bedrock on which most of New Zealand’s minimum employment rights rest.