Uber eyes flexible benefits fund for gig workers in Canada
Workers can qualify for the benefits fund after completing a specific number of hours per quarter, it said.
Uber has proposed a plan for a flexible benefits fund for app-based ride-hail and food delivery drivers in Canada where all gig industry players would share data on workers' hours and earnings.
In a company blog post, it said the fund would give gig workers with cash benefits to put toward a retirement or life insurance plan, or to pay for educational or dental and health benefits not covered by Canada's universal healthcare system.
"The organization would then tell each platform that they need to provide a certain amount to cover their share of the worker’s total benefits," the company said.
The company added that workers can qualify for the benefits fund after completing a specific number of hours per quarter.
"Once a worker’s aggregate hours surpass a given threshold, all retained earnings in that quarter will be multiplied by the benefit rate at that level, and the resulting benefit amount will be put into an account," it further suggested.
The companies would then share data on drivers' hours and earnings and pay into the fund proportionally, Uber explained.
