The BC Federation of Labour is disappointed with the ride-hailing legislation announced by the provincial government.
They say it does little to promote good paying, stable jobs, while also failing to protect workers from large multinational companies like Uber that are known for bad labour relations records.
President Irene Lanzinger says they like some of what the legislation has like insurance and licensing requirements.
“However, companies like Uber and Lyft treat their employees as independent contractors,” Lanzinger said. “So they don’t pay EI, they don’t pay WCB, these people are kind of on their own.”
“They’re kind of very much the epitome of this precarious, part-time gig economy.”
Lanzinger says they will ask for a number of reforms like guaranteed levels of employment so that drivers aren’t exploited in the long run.
“When you think of a good job, you think of a job with good wages, benefits, maybe a pension plan,” Lanzinger added. “Guaranteed levels of employment, there are none when you are a driver for Uber or Lyft.”
“No one guarantees you a four-hour callout or a certain wage. It’s very precarious work and it can be very exploitative, so there should be rules.”
Lanzinger also noted that the legislation should have had measures to modernize outdated employment laws that give employers too much power and employees too few rights.