Washington Legislators pushed a bill to guarantee minimum pay standards for Uber and Lyft drivers. They will also qualify to receive benefits as a part of their employment. Ride share companies Uber and Lyft supported the bill along with some unions. Leaders believe that this will improve the lives of drivers as well as keep the prices affordable for residents.
The bill would require ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft to provide a minimum amount of compensation for every trip a driver makes. Many drivers use this as a second income while others drive full-time. Gas prices has made every driver more alert about what they spend at the pump. This bill will allow drivers to have more for their pockets.
Companies would have to begin providing drivers paid sick leave in 2023. For every 40 hours a driver spends driving passengers, they accrue one hour of paid sick time. Workers compensation coverage also would be made available to drivers. The bill has been delivered to Inslee and is currently awaiting further action.
The bill imposes statewide regulations on the ride share industry. The Employment Security Department would be tasked with studying how drivers could participate in the state’s unemployment insurance, paid family medical leave and long-term care programs in the future.
Currently, drivers can be fired upon any customer complaint. There is no process to appeal for drivers. Under the bill, companies would have to provide a process by which a driver could appeal a decision to deactivate their account. That process would be created in coordination with a “Drivers Resource Center,” a nonprofit organization that would be funded by passenger fares.
Some other information in this bill are as follows:
-Background checks will be required.
-The city will collect a 10-cent surcharge per trip on prearranged ride providers like Uber and Lyft.
-Drivers working for rideshare companies, “as non-employees, cannot access the foundational protections.
-There will be a zero tolerance drug and alcohol policy
-Records will be randomly inspected by the Department of Licensing.
-The Department of Labor & Industries would be allowed to investigate complaints against companies and assess civil penalties as warranted.
-The law would freeze any fee increases a city or county collects from companies or drivers.
-Drivers must register with the city and hold a city business license.
