The tribunal decision follows an attempted ban on Uber’s operations in London by the regulator Transport for London (TfL). TfL revoked the taxi start-up of its license to operate in the city in September. Uber then appealed against the shock move last month, which allowed its drivers to continue operating in the capital.
Criticism has been leveled at the ride-hailing business from all sides — including labor unions, politicians and traditional black cab drivers — over working conditions and regulatory concerns.
In a separate case last year, two British Uber drivers, James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam, successfully argued to an employment tribunal that as their actions were controlled by Uber, they should be treated as workers instead of as self-employed.
U.K. labor union GMB hailed a “monumental victory” over the firm following the case.
Farrar, himself a union representative for Uber drivers, argued that, after commission and operating costs, drivers were earning only £5.68 ($7.46) per hour, 15 percent below the U.K. minimum wage.
