Flexibility and Benefits for British Columbia Online Platform Workers

Over the past 3 years, we’ve been advocating alongside UFCW Canada for provincial governments across Canada to implement reforms that provide the 2 things drivers and delivery people like you tell us they want most: flexibility as well as benefits and protections.  Last year, the Government of British Columbia passed Bill 48, a law which gives online platform workers like you a set of benefits and protections while preserving the flexibility you want.

As of September 3, 2024, Online Platform Workers like you will be entitled to a number of new benefits and protections including:

Minimum Earnings Guarantee: Online Platform Workers will be guaranteed 120% of minimum wage for active – or engaged – time, which is the period beginning from when you accept a ride or delivery and start travelling to the pickup location, and ending when you complete the dropoff. Online Platform Workers (except those who travel on foot) are also entitled to an expense standard, meaning a per-km rate for costs incurred during active – or engaged – time. For ridesharing, this rate is $0.45 per-km and for delivery, the rate is $0.35 per-km. For each two-week pay period, Uber will compare your total earnings against the minimum wage and expense standard.  If your earnings are below the combined guaranteed earnings, we will top up your pay.

Transparency: Online Platform Workers will be entitled to know the pickup and dropoff locations before accepting a trip request, as well as the estimated earnings for the trip. There are also requirements related to the wage statement so Online Platform Workers can be sure that you were paid correctly. 

WorkSafeBC: Online Platform Workers will be eligible for WorkSafeBC coverage which includes workers’ compensation benefits such as vocational rehabilitation services for work-related injuries. There is no additional cost to Online Platform Workers to access this benefit.

Suspensions & Terminations: The regulations have new requirements around account access suspensions and deactivations, including a requirement to give advance notice in certain cases, and to provide reasons for the waitlisting or deactivation.

Tips: Online Platform Workers will be guaranteed to keep the tips they receive, just as you do right now on the Uber platform