Over the last decade, platform companies like Uber and Deliveroo have exploited loopholes in the law to make big profits through falsely self-employing their workers, allowing them to avoid obligations to proper pay and working conditions.

This means workers often don’t earn the minimum wage, don’t have any paid holidays, don’t have the right to paid sick leave or any social security contributions. It’s not only unfair to workers, but to the vast majority of businesses who play by the rules and to all citizens because these practices rob public services of funding.

Trade unions are successfully challenging platform companies in the courts across Europe, winning important judgements that prove the business model of these companies is not only unethical but illegal. The European Commission has also launched a consultation on “improving the working conditions in platform work.”

Time is running out on this business model built on exploitation. But Uber haven’t given up. They have doubled the amount they are spending on lobbying the EU and are now pushing hard for the creation of a “third status” between worker and self-employed.

To put it simply, they are trying to re-write the law to better suit their shareholders. But platform companies are companies like any other and should have to play by the same rules.

Our message to the EU is simple: don’t give Uber a free ride.

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