Uber Eats‘ employees can pick and choose when they work and get paid per delivery.
Keystone
A Geneva court has determined that the meal delivery service Uber Eats is an employer and has the obligation to hire its drivers, reports Swiss public television, SRF.
This content was published on
2 minutes
The global tech giant Uber is fighting multiple legal battles against being classified as an employer of any kind – with all the obligations and rights that would entail. Several court decisions are pending in Switzerland.
SRF’s consumer magazine Espresso has brought to light the latest, yet unpublished, judgement dealing with the issue.
In early June, the Geneva Administrative Court ruled that the food courier Uber Eats was to be classified as a personnel hirer and had to hire its drivers.
The decision is a major setback for Uber Eats, which has taken legal action against the Geneva cantonal government and vehemently denied having such a role and responsibilities in the past.
Geneva stopped the online food ordering and delivery service at the beginning of 2019 on the grounds that Uber Eats was hiring staff in Geneva without a permit. Uber Eats appealed against that decision.
The Geneva Administrative Court was receptive to the arguments of the Geneva government and classed Uber Eats as a staffing agency.
“We are very satisfied with the ruling,” says Mauro Poggia, a local official responsible for the case. “The scope of the court decision extends far beyond the canton of Geneva and does not only concern the activities of Uber Eats.”
Just like the Uber ridesharing platform, which allows people to offer taxi services, Uber Eats‘ employees can choose when they work and get paid per delivery.
Federal appeal
“This decision reflects neither the model we work with nor the reasons why couriers choose to use the Uber Eats app,” Uber Eats told Espresso. “The couriers are completely free to decide when, how often and for how long they use Uber Eats-App and whether they wish to carry out other activities. We will appeal this decision at the Federal Court.”
Kurt Pärli, a law professor at the University of Basel, notes that if the Federal Court upholds the decision, other cantons would have to follow Geneva’s approach.
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
Credit Suisse turned down takeover bids one year before collapse
This content was published on
The management of Credit Suisse turned down takeover bids just over a year before the bank collapsed, says American investment banker Bob Diamond.
Geneva human rights film fest rewards 12 ‘impactful’ productions
This content was published on
The Geneva Grand Prix of the 2025 International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH) has been awarded to the Egyptian documentary, Les Filles du Nil.
Top Swiss commerce official to meet with Trump administration
This content was published on
The head of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Helene Budliger Artieda, will travel to Washington next week.
Former US general advises Switzerland to prepare for war
This content was published on
According to former United States general Ben Hodges, the withdrawal of US troops from Europe is only a matter of time. In an interview with SonntagsBlick, he advises Switzerland to prepare for war.
This content was published on
The author of the bestseller Swiss Watching and former member of SWI swissinfo.ch's Public Council, Diccon Bewes, died on March 11 after a battle with cancer.
Anti-separatists in Bernese Jura mark 50th anniversary of crucial vote
This content was published on
Anti-separatist circles celebrated in Tramelan (BE) on Saturday the 50th anniversary of the vote of 16 March 1975 in which the population of the Bernese Jura chose to remain part of the Bernese Confederation. The theme of the jubilee was the identity of the Bernese Jura after Moutier's departure.
Nearly one in two bicycles sold in Switzerland is an e-bike
This content was published on
In 2024, almost every second bicycle sold in Switzerland was an e-bike. Overall, around 14% fewer bikes were sold than in the previous year.
Over 200 Swiss firms sign up to CO2 reduction targets
This content was published on
To date, 237 companies from Switzerland have joined the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), committing to CO2 reduction targets in line with the Paris Accord.
Geneva-based UN migration office cuts fifth of workforce
This content was published on
The UN's International Organisation for Migration HQ in Geneva is slashing 20% of its 1,000 staff due to the US aid freeze.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
More Swiss students and women tap and ride Uber
This content was published on
The ride-hailing service Uber presented new user figures on Monday, growing fourfold in two years in French-speaking Switzerland alone.
This content was published on
There were 559 criminal procedures against the ride sharing service Uber in 2015 and 2016 in Zurich and Lausanne, the police have said.
This content was published on
“It’s a hard blow for Uber’s business model,” work law expert Thomas Geiser told Swiss public television SRF’s RundschauExternal link programme on Thursday. “This means that every other case involving an Uber driver will be treated the same,” said the St Gallen University professor. “It means that the [Uber business model] cannot work. Uber has…
This content was published on
A short Instagram clip by a Brazilian travel blogger that paints Switzerland’s mountains in a dramatic light has gone viral.
Geneva cab drivers demand CHF4.8 million from Uber
This content was published on
According to the Le Temps paper on Friday, a lawyer representing 285 Geneva taxis has issued a notice to the ride-sharing service Uber and the canton of Geneva demanding CHF4.8 million ($4.9 million) for the improper implementation of the ban on Uber in the canton. The lawyer, Jacques Roulet, has threatened to go to the…
Driverless vehicles may lead to more congestion in cities
This content was published on
A study has found that the introduction of autonomous taxis and privately-owned driverless vehicles on Swiss streets may result in more congestion.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.