A court in canton Vaud has confirmed an earlier ruling that a former Uber driver was an employee of the ride-sharing firm, not an independent contractor, and that the man had wrongly lost his job.
The cantonal appeals court judges said in a verdict published on Tuesday that the man had been sacked in an “unjustified manner” and that he should enjoy the same rights as a taxi driver who has a contract with a taxi company.
The driver had worked for an Uber subsidiary, between April 2015 and December 2016. His account was disactivated at the end of 2016 due to complaints against him as a driver, prompting him to launch legal action.
Uber is fighting multiple legal battles against being classified as an employer of any kind – with all the obligations and rights that would entail.
Legal experts and trade unions have hailed the latest ruling as a “landmark decision”.
According to the driver’s lawyer, this is the first time in Switzerland that a cantonal court, ruling as an appellate authority, has ruled that the Uber Group must behave like an employer.
However, Uber can still take the case to a higher court.
The decision comes on the back of a court ruling in neighbouring canton Geneva in June when judges ruled that the meal delivery service Uber Eats is an employer and has the obligation to hire its drivers.
The company has appealed against the decision at the Federal Administrative Court, but a verdict is pending.
Swiss climate activists block vehicles near Gotthard tunnel
This content was published on
Around ten climate activists briefly blocked the A2 motorway near the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel on Thursday.
Watches belonging to Michael Schumacher up for auction
This content was published on
Schumacher's family is auctioning off eight rare watches from his collection in Geneva. The Christie's auction will take place on Monday.
Joya Marleen and Baschi named best solo acts at Swiss Music Awards
This content was published on
St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
This content was published on
The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
This content was published on
In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
This content was published on
As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
This content was published on
After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
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
Uber faces ban in Geneva if it fails to hire drivers
This content was published on
The Swiss canton of Geneva has decided to classify Uber as an employer, hence obliging it to pay social benefits to its drivers to continue operating.
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.