Uber has urged regulators to recognise the value of independent contracts, as the EU considers new laws to protect those working in the ‘gig economy.’

The ride-sharing and food delivery platform said that it had published a white paper called ‘A Better Deal’ to call on policymakers, platform companies, and social representatives across Europe to “set a new standard for platform work.”

“We need clear, progressive laws that recognise the value of this unique type of independent work and pave the way for better protecting it,” said Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi. “For example, in France a series of reforms has pushed the industry to ensure greater transparency and control for independent workers, while giving them more protections such as mandatory insurance and vocational training.”

He said that the new standard for the gig economy needs to be grounded in the principles drivers and couriers say are most important to them.

The Uber CEO said that workers were looking for “flexibility and control over when and where they want to work,” a decent wage, access to relevant benefits and protections, and meaningful representation.

He also said that reform should be industry-wide and that all platform companies must offer benefits and protections that are standardised across the sector.

Uber’s UK branch is currently awaiting a Supreme Court verdict, which will reveal whether the company has to treat its drivers like staff employees rather than self-employed contractors.

A group of Uber drivers claimed employment rights at an employment tribunal in 2016 and won.

Following a preliminary hearing, the employment tribunal found that the drivers were workers and that they were “working" whenever they (a) had the Uber app switched on, (b) were within the territory in which they were authorised to work, and (c) were able and willing to accept assignments.

Uber then appealed the tribunal verdict and lost, and then lost again after bringing a case to the Court of Appeal.

After that the company brought an appeal to the UK's highest court - the Supreme Court - which will rule on the drivers' claims for a fourth time on 19 February, following hearings that started last year.

The drivers contend that they were "workers" for the purposes of the Employment Rights Act 1996, the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 and the Working Time Regulations 1998.

As such, they claim they were entitled to the minimum wage, paid leave and other legal protections.

Uber argues they were independent, third party contractors and not "workers".

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