Thousands of Uber drivers are to be offered sick pay for the first time as part of a new package of benefits from the company. But drivers will have to pay £2 a week for the basic “safety net”. The scheme includes payments of up to £2,000 if they are unable to drive for two weeks or more due to illness or injury. It comes amid growing calls for firms such as Uber and Deliveroo in the “gig economy” — where staff are often freelance or on short-term contracts — to provide rights to their workers.
