The UK's Court of Appeal has confirmed that riders for food delivery firm Deliveroo are self-employed, dismissing a union appeal against past judgments on their status.
Deliveroo said that it was the fourth court judgment in the UK which had determined its riders are self-employed, after one by the Central Arbitration Committee and two at the High Court.
The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) was refused permission in 2017 for collective bargaining rights for a group of Deliveroo riders on the basis that they were not workers under the terms of legislation on labour relations.
"Gig Economy"
Employment models across the "gig economy" have been challenged in courts around the world by unions and workers.
In February, the UK's Supreme Court ruled that a group of Uber drivers are entitled to worker rights such as the minimum wage.
Unanimous Verdict
In the UK's Court of Appeal's unanimous 3-0 verdict, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court's dismissal of a judicial review of that judgement.
It said that the fact that Deliveroo's riders do not have an obligation to provide services personally was a material factor.
Deliveroo Spokesperson Statements
A Deliveroo spokesperson said that the verdict is an important milestone.
"UK courts have now tested and upheld the self-employed status of Deliveroo riders four times," the spokesperson said. "Deliveroo's model offers the genuine flexibility that is only compatible with self-employment, providing riders with the work they tell us they value."
Shunned Listing
The risk of legal challenges to its employment model was one reason that some major investors shunned Deliveroo's London listing in March.
Devastating
The UK's opposition Labour Party said that the decision is devastating for Deliveroo drivers, and the government should outlaw the company's "exploitative employment practices".
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