Uber in for questioning

MPS to probe ‘gig economy’ firms

ONLINE firms Uber and Deliveroo are due to be quizzed next week as part of a parliamentary probe into the ‘gig economy’.

MPS on the Commons Business Select Committee will question the two firms, along with courier giant Hermes, on the growing use of self-employed workers on flexible terms.

It comes amid huge changes in working patterns for millions of people, including the use of zero hours contracts.

Among those giving evidence at the hearing on Tuesday is Andrew Byrne, head of public policy at Uber.

The taxi-hailing app is currently battling to keep operating in London.

Transport for London shocked the US firm by refusing to renew its licence last month, saying it was not a “fit and proper” operator. Uber lost an employment tribunal last year brought by two drivers who claimed they were not genuinely self-employed.

The tribunal said they should be guaranteed the minimum wage and other basic employment rights. Labour MP Rachel Reeves, who chairs the Commons Business Select Committee, said earlier this year: “I don’t really buy this idea that Deliveroo and Uber go down the selfemployed model because it’s so great for the workers and that’s the only thing the workers want to do. “There are clearly disadvantages to being self-employed in terms of missing out on certain rights.”