Earlier this year, Wunderman Thompson SA announced the appointment of Tshego Tshukutswane to its executive team as group chief strategy officer. Tshukutswane joined this month succeeding Moagi Bodibe, who has taken up independent consulting.ByJessica Tennant
We're thrilled to announce that Thirst Cape Town's operation is now under the leadership and guidance of our original founders Clyde Aca Ackerman and Rael Lasarow.Issued byThirst Bar Services
While StatsSA's latest figures show retail trade falling 3.5% year-on-year from 2019 to 2020, continuing a 10-month downward spiral, South Africa's retailers are starting to show signs of adapting to the needs of the changing market.
The United Kingdom Supreme Court was called upon to determine whether or not the Uber drivers (claimants) were employees of Uber BV and if the answer is to the affirmative, the employees would have a right to be covered by the National Minimum Wage Act.
The Supreme Court delivered its judgment on 19 February 2021.
There are basically three parties involved in this relationship, namely, Uber BV, a Dutch company, Uber London Ltd, a subsidiary of Uber BV based in London and the drivers.
In the service agreements concluded between Uber and the drivers, the drivers are referred to as independent contractors and not employees.
The Supreme Court held that the question of whether Uber drivers were workers or employees of Uber within the meaning of legislation designed to protect employees, is not determined by applying ordinary principles of contract law to the contractual terms of the agreements between the parties. Those contractual provisions were inserted (by Uber) with the intention of excluding the operation of employment legislation.
The Supreme Court investigated the relationship between Uber BV and the drivers and found that because of the degree of control Uber exercised over the drivers, Uber BV was the employer.
In coming to the conclusion, the court considered some of the following factors:
that the private hired vehicle license used by the drivers was in the name of Uber London;
the passenger contacts Uber for transportation, in turn Uber engages the driver to ferry the passenger;
the fare amount is fixed by Uber;
the driver undergoes Uber training at Uber's premises;
the driver is subjected to the performance standards set by Uber; and
there is no direct contact between the passenger and the driver. This decision, in our view, might be followed by other courts in other jurisdictions. The implications of this decision are not only for Uber but also extend to those companies that operate similar businesses to Uber.
Uber drivers in South Africa are gearing up for a courtroom battle as they seek recognition as employees - not merely independent contractors...
25 Feb 2021
It is in no doubt going to be a game changer, not just for Uber but also for other businesses that have owner drivers.
A similar matter came before the Labour Court. Because of the failure to join Uber BV to the proceedings, the court was constrained to deal with the relationship between Uber BV and the drivers. The Labour Court came to the conclusion that the drivers had concluded contracts with Uber BV and their claim potentially lay against Uber BV.
According to the Labour Court, the commissioner ought to have upheld the jurisdictional challenge raised by Uber SA because there was no contract between Uber SA and the drivers.
About the author
Sandile July, Director and Labour Law specialist at Werksmans Attorneys
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