CONTRACTORS OR EMPLOYEES? Uber Eats said the Labor Standards Act barely fits its business model, as its drivers can set their own work hours and can refuse orders

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 16, 2019
By: Kao Shih-ching and Lisa Wang  /  Staff reporters

Food delivery service provider Uber Eats Taiwan yesterday said that it would not change its business model in the short term, even though the Ministry of Labor on Monday said that food deliverers’ are employees rather than contractors.

The company said that it still considers delivery drivers to be contractors, because they can freely and flexibly decide when to work via its service platform.

“We hope that the government will discuss with all relevant stakeholders, including platform operators, and create regulations that protect the interests of delivery workers, but also allow this innovative service to prosper,” Uber Eats said in a statement.

The Labor Standards Act (勞基法) stipulates that food couriers are subject to the maximum daily working hours, must have one fixed day off per week and are entitled to double pay on national holidays.    [FULL  STORY]