Swiss authorities say Uber drivers should be treated as ‘employees’
For the first time, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has clearly indicated that Uber taxi drivers should be classed as employees rather than self-employed.
In an internal statement seen by the 10vor10 programme on Swiss public television, SECO gave the legal opinion that according to the conditions that bind drivers to Uber, they should be regarded as employees rather than independent contractors.
In assuming responsibility for the passenger service it provides, then issuing drivers with “far-reaching instructions”, Uber – or the taxi companies that it subcontracts – effectively acts as an employer to the drivers, SECO says.
The legal opinion, which is not binding but which is generally heeded by Swiss local authorities, follows an industrial dispute in cantons Geneva and Vaud in December 2017 in which various drivers sub-contracted by Uber went on strike.
The drivers were protesting conditions under which intermediary companies, contracted by Uber, paid them salaries that were unacceptably low – sometimes as low as ten francs an hour. Some of the drivers were from neighbouring France.
According to SECO’s statement, however, such a system (which allowed Uber to avoid acting as a regulated employer of the drivers) would no longer be valid: the partner companies would need a licence to hire out their personnel, and would also need to guarantee social security contributions.
The trade union Unia, which was heavily involved in last year’s strike, welcomed SECO’s decision and said in a press release Monday that “Uber is to be regarded as an employer – with all the associated duties this brings”.
Uber told 10vor10 that it maintains a constructive and open dialogue with all authorities involved.
Popular Stories
More
Foreign affairs
European nations snub Swiss-made weapons over Ukraine restrictions
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
Swiss air traffic control upgrade slows tempo for safety reasons
This content was published on
The upgrade of Switzerland’s air traffic control system will take longer than anticipated following a series of malfunctions.
Switzerland remains ‘world’s most innovative country’
This content was published on
Switzerland remains the world's most innovative country, still ahead of Sweden and the US on the WIPO Global Innovation Index.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss taxi drivers stand up to Uber
This content was published on
The demonstration was organised by Switzerland’s largest single trade union, Unia, and the national taxi trade union. Following a demonstration at Bern’s football stadium, there was a procession of taxis through the city, before a petition was handed over to the government. The unions have accused Uber of undercutting fare prices, lacking adequate insurance cover,…
This content was published on
Ride-sharing service Uber has been ordered to cease operations in Geneva because it violates cantonal taxi regulations. Drivers face fines of up to CHF20,000 ($20,500).
This content was published on
“It’s a hard blow for Uber’s business model,” work law expert Thomas Geiser told Swiss public television SRF’s RundschauExternal link programme on Thursday. “This means that every other case involving an Uber driver will be treated the same,” said the St Gallen University professor. “It means that the [Uber business model] cannot work. Uber has…
This content was published on
The ride-hailing service Uber presented new user figures on Monday, growing fourfold in two years in French-speaking Switzerland alone.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.