B.C. Uber workers call on province to cap the number of drivers on the road
'Right now, it's essentially a free for all,' says ride-share driver
'Tis the season for holiday parties and high demand for rideshare drivers — and some workers behind the wheel are asking the province for help to improve job conditions.
Last month, the B.C. government unveiled changes to bring better working conditions for app-based gig workers. The legislation addressed unpredictable wages, being cut off from a job without proper notice and the lack of compensation for workers injured on the job.
On Tuesday, some gig workers met with B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains, who proposed those legislation changes, to ask for further regulation from the government for rideshare and delivery drivers.
"We are trying to have a regulation where there is a maximum amount of drivers that can be on the job," said driver Inder Raj Gill, who was at the meeting with the minister.
"Right now, it's essentially a free-for-all," he added.
While Gill did not specify what that cap would be, he said there's "only enough pie" to go around for so many drivers.
Provincial estimates put the number of ride-hailing drivers in B.C. at about 11,000, along with 27,000 food-delivery workers.
Drivers, says Gill, are also seeking better compensation than the province proposed in November.
The proposed amendments include a minimum earnings standard for engaged time at 120 per cent of minimum wage before tips — or $20.10 an hour at the current minimum wage of $16.75. The rate is higher because engaged time would not include the time spent waiting for the next ride or delivery.
"The 120 per cent of engaged time is a very vague way of paying us," said Gill.
He said drivers will only be paid that when they are on assignment, meanwhile they spend at least half of their shifts waiting to be assigned — one of the issues he raised with Bains this week.
"We suggested that any worker should have a minimum utilization rate of 80 to 85 per cent. What that means is, if a worker is online on any platform, they should be working at least 80 per cent of the time when they are online," said Gill.
Rideshare drivers that attended a Nov. 16 press conference where Bains announced new gig worker employment standards shared Gill's sentiments.
"I don't make enough these days," driver Kuljeet Singh told CBC News. "You don't have overtime, you don't have vacations, you don't have benefits, you don't have dental — you don't have anything."
Singh said a minimum standard of $30-$35 an hour would be more appropriate.
Other labour issues that have not been addressed in B.C.'s plan include overtime, holidays and paid leave.
But Gill believes November's announcement was just a starting point and is optimistic following his recent meeting with Bains, calling the talks productive.
The proposed legislation also includes measures prohibiting companies from withholding tips, requiring transparency about how much each gig will earn, creating an official review process when workers are let go and providing coverage under WorkSafeBC.
With files from On The Coast and Bethany Lindsay