Say on pay

3 September 2019 By Gina Chon Follow @GinaChon

California lawmakers want Uber and Lyft to treat drivers as employees. The firms’ alternative is to offer minimum wages and paid sick leave. Amazon has been quiet but increasingly relies on gig couriers without benefits. It’s time for Jeff Bezos’ firm to be part of the solution.

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California’s Senate Appropriations Committee on Aug. 30 approved a measure that would make it harder for employers to classify workers as independent contractors. The bill is aimed at forcing gig-economy firms such as Uber Technologies and Lyft to treat their workers as employees. It already passed in the California General Assembly and now moves to the full state senate for a vote.

In response to the proposal, Uber and Lyft said on Aug. 29 that they would spend $60 million to promote an alternative plan they hope to put on the California ballot initiative for the 2020 election. Their measure would keep drivers as contractors but provide benefits such as guaranteed minimum earnings of $21 an hour, paid sick leave and paid family leave for those who drive a minimum of 20 hours a week.

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