United Kingdom: Uber launches pension scheme for drivers with retroactive payments

Uber, the US ride hailing company, announced on 24 September that it will set up a pension fund with auto-enrolment for its 70,000 drivers in the UK. This unprecedented move comes after the country’s Supreme Court ruling in February of this year, which said Uber drivers should be classed as workers as opposed to self-employed and should therefore enjoy certain rights (see article n°12369). However, the US tech giant seems keen to go beyond what the ruling requires and redefine its corporate policy more broadly since it has, in the wake of its decision, invited competitors in the gig economy to follow in its footsteps.