Uber has announced it is to give its drivers sick pay and parental leave following lengthy action from union GMB.

They will also have access to medical cover, compensation for work-related injuries and bereavement payments.

The drivers have been campaigning for better rights for at lease three years, and in October 2016 the Central London Employment Tribunal ruled in GMB's favour - determining that Uber drivers are not self-employed, but workers entitled to basic workers’ rights including holiday pay, a guaranteed minimum wage and an entitlement to breaks.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal then upheld the ruling in November 2017. Uber continues to appeal against the decision and the next appeal hearing will be held on October 30.

Mick Rix, GMB national officer, said: “This is a well-deserved victory for GMB’s hard fought campaign.

“GMB has fought Uber tooth and nail in the courts, the workplace and on the international stage to bring about this change.

“At long last it seems Uber are starting to listen to GMB members complaints regards the company’s treatment of drivers and denying them their rights.

“This is a major step in the right direction, but our successful court victories, winning workers’ rights for Uber drivers, could have all been avoided if they had sat down and talked with GMB from the start."

Uber said it previously "focused too much on growth and not enough on the people who made that growth possible".

Uber's chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi said: "We called drivers 'partners', but didn't always act like it."

The insurance and compensation package will be available to all Uber drivers and Uber Eats delivery couriers across Europe.

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