A group of Uber drivers in New Zealand won a landmark case against the ride-hailing company on Tuesday, requiring Uber to treat them as employees rather than independent contractors.
The employment court decision in New Zealand only applies to four drivers who were part of a class action lawsuit filed in July, but the ruling may have broader implications for drivers across the country seeking worker rights and protections. The New Zealand decision comes just a few weeks after the US Department of Labor proposed broad changes to how gig workers should be classified. The proposed rule would specifically classify gig workers as employees if they are economically dependent on the company for which they work.
