“Uber is not an information service provider but a transport company and must comply with all employers’ obligations”
Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) Maciej Szpunar clarified in his opinion today, Thursday 11 May, that Uber is regulated by the law of the Member States and consequently has to obtain the necessary licences and authorisations as any other transport company. This supports the position of the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) that campaigns for fair competition and fair transport in Europe and expects the ECJ to confirm the Advocate General’s opinion.
ETF Deputy General Secretary Sabine Trier reacts: “It has always been clear that Uber’s argument saying it is merely an information sharing platform and it has no responsibility whatsoever towards its drivers is unacceptable and an insult for all transport companies obeying the law.
“This opinion of the Advocate General and the criteria he uses to justify his reasoning is in line with ETF’s expectations on how the European institutions must ensure a fair transport sector with respect for workers and their conditions.
“We fully support his proposal to have Uber’s platform classified by the ECJ as a ‘service in the field of transport’ and make it subject to the same conditions as each law-abiding transport company. It will mean better protection of the profession and an important step towards the eradication of social dumping in transport.”
Uber is one of the main targets in the ETF campaign to stop social dumping and obtain fair transport in Europe with equal pay for equal work. ETF’s vision for the future of all transport sectors in Europe can be consulted via the following link: https://goo.gl/ztzz1y
For more information, please contact Sabine Trier, ETF Deputy General Secretary, E-Mail: s.trier@etf-europe.org, Mobile: +32 477 51 28 14