Quote:
Gatwick Airport taxi drivers are planning to strike later this week after 300 drivers were given 48 hours to move to a zero-hour contract or face being fired.
Thought the term 'zero-hours contract' seemed a bit strange here, and one that's not normally associated with the trade, and the use of it here is because of the involvement of Unite, who are more used to dealing with employers and employees, rather than self-employed drivers, or those with 'worker' status Uber under and one or two other platforms.
However, it does seem that a zero-hours contract not only applies to employees, but also to those with 'worker' status as well. So I suppose, to that extent, Uber drivers are working under zero-hours contracts.
But what seems to be happening at Gatwick is that the drivers are being offered 'worker' status contracts like Uber, instead of their current self-employment. This is obvously being done by the company to stave off the litigation regarding employment status
On the other hand, if you're genuinley regarded as a self-employed driver then the term 'zero-hours contract' doesn't apply, because of course a contract of genuine self-employment would never guarantee any level of work anyway.
Some extracts from HMG's guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... -employersHis Majesty's Government wrote:
What are zero hours contracts?
[...]This guidance does not cover those who are genuinely self-employed and undertake work on a zero hours arrangement. For example, a self-employed plumber might take up work offered on a zero hours basis from a number of regular clients, but he remains self-employed.[...]
Employment rights
Everyone employed on a zero hours contract is entitled to statutory employment rights. There are no exceptions.
A person will benefit from the employment rights associated with their employment status and individuals on a zero hours contract will either have the employment status of a ’worker’ or an ‘employee’.
Any individual on a zero hours contract who is a ‘worker’ will be entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage, paid annual leave, rest breaks and protection from discrimination.[...]