Employment rights of Bolt drivers to be tested in tribunal

Drivers working for Bolt, the ridehailing app operator, are seeking to be classed as workers rather than selfemployed contractors in a London employment tribunal case.

- Jane Croft

More than 12,500 drivers represented by the law firm Leigh Day are bringing the action against Bolt, an Estonia-based company that has been operating in the UK since 2019.

The drivers claim they should be treated as workers because of the significant control Bolt has over how they work, and say they should be given the same rights and protections as typical workers.

The high-profile employment rights case, which will begin in central London today, comes as the government prepares to draw up its plans to strengthen workers' rights.

There are two types of employment status in the UK - employees and workers with both entitled to holiday pay and the minimum wage. However, employees enjoy much broader rights such as being able to sue for unfair dismissal. Independent contractors do not have any of these rights.