Energy News
TRADE WARS
UK rules drivers on Bolt ride-hailing platform are employees
UK rules drivers on Bolt ride-hailing platform are employees
by AFP Staff Writers
London (AFP) Nov 8, 2024

UK drivers using the Bolt ride-hailing platform should be considered employees and have access to rights such as the minimum wage and paid holidays, an employment tribunal ruled Friday.

The tribunal said that its ruling applied to all drivers who used Bolt as their only platform for finding customers.

Leigh Day, the legal firm representing a group of 15,000 drivers, said that the ruling affects all of the estimated 100,000 drivers who use the Bolt app.

The Estonian-based company said that nine in 10 of its drivers use multiple platforms to maximise earnings, so the ruling only applied to 10 percent of its drivers.

The UK Supreme Court made a similar ruling in 2021 in respect to Uber drivers, which was then a world first for the US company. Leigh Day argued that that case should also apply to its clients.

The status of "worker" in the UK is not necessarily formalised by a contract, with those employed under informal arrangements lacking protections afforded to salaried employees, such as sick leave and unemployment insurance.

"This judgment confirms that gig economy operators cannot continue to falsely classify their workers as independent contractors running their own business to avoid providing the rights those workers are properly entitled to," Leigh Day employment team solicitor Charlotte Pettman said.

"We call on Bolt to compensate our clients without further delay."

The legal firm believes the compensation for the backdated underpayment of minimum wage and unpaid holidays owed to the 15,000 drivers could be worth more than GBP 200 million ($259 million), or GBP 15,000 each.

Bolt called the figure "speculative", with another hearing expected to take place next year to decide the figure.

A Bolt spokesman said that "we have always supported the overwhelming majority's choice to remain self-employed independent contractors, protecting their flexibility, personal control and earning potential.

"We will continue to engage with drivers as we carefully review our options, including grounds for appeal, ensuring that we are helping drivers to succeed as entrepreneurs and grow on their own terms," he added.

Related Links
Global Trade News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
TRADE WARS
Trump's China tariffs back in play; But US firms remain upbeat at trade show
Washington (AFP) Nov 7, 2024
US President-elect Donald Trump is likely to return to the issue of tariffs in negotiations with China, as well as consider tax cuts and new sanctions, his former Treasury Secretary said in an interview Thursday. "I think that tariffs do need to be used to get counterparties back to the table, especially China, which is not living up to all of the agreements they made in the Phase One trade agreement," Steven Mnuchin told CNBC. He was referring to a 2020 trade deal that followed a truce in a tar ... read more

TRADE WARS
The refrigerator as an indicator of societal progress

China passes energy law to 'promote carbon neutrality'

Brazil raises target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions

France, Barbados, Kenya urge global levies to tackle climate change

TRADE WARS
NASA opens Power Systems essay contest for K12 students

Silk Thread Innovation Powers Smart Textile Technology

Direct Observation of Space Charge Layers Inside Fuel Cell Electrolytes

In search of high-performance materials for fusion reactors

TRADE WARS
Sweden blocks 13 offshore wind farms over defence concerns

Sweden's defence concerned by planned offshore wind power

On US coast, wind power foes embrace 'Save the Whales' argument

Renewables revolt in Sardinia, Italy's coal-fired island

TRADE WARS
Investigating limitations in new materials for perovskite solar cells

High renewable energy penetration reduces blackout impact

KAIST researchers improve hybrid perovskite solar cells with enhanced infrared capture

Hydrogels utilize sunlight for sustainable hydrogen production

TRADE WARS
Rwanda counting on Russia to train nuclear power specialists

Building the materials for the next generation of nuclear reactor

Framatome opens new Italian offices to bolster European nuclear energy growth

Small modular nuclear reactors may drive US energy and emissions progress

TRADE WARS
Waste heat from London sewers eyed to warm UK parliament

Bio-based fibers may have greater environmental impact than traditional plastics

Cobalt copper tandem catalysts transform CO2 into renewable ethanol

Sacred cow: coal-hungry India eyes bioenergy to cut carbon

TRADE WARS
Harnessing oil and gas windfall profits for climate funding

Researchers advance hydrogen jet engine design for sustainable aviation

U.S. secures 200 million barrels of oil for strategic reserve

Venezuela signs defense, energy deals with Russia; Greek tanker crippled by Huthi rebels starts oil transfer

TRADE WARS
Nations gather for crunch climate talks in shadow of US vote

Lancet calls for urgenet shift in fossil fuel investment to tackle climate health impacts

Papua New Guinea to boycott 'waste of time' UN climate summit

1.2 billion people at 'high risk' from climate change: World Bank

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.