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TfL cannot decide on private hire drivers’ employment rights, Mayor of London says
The Mayor of London says Transport for London (TfL) cannot investigate alleged breaches of employment law by driver and courier app companies, while calling on the Government to strengthen platform accountability for work-related road safety.
In a response to London Assembly Green member Caroline Russell, the Mayor said drivers’ pay, employment rights and alleged breaches of employment law were matters for specialist tribunals, not areas regulated by TfL.
Russell’s question cited a 1 September 2026 letter from Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to the App Drivers’ and Couriers’ Union (ADCU). Reynolds said employers should not avoid legal obligations by describing people as self-employed when they were workers. The letter also stated that workers are entitled to core rights, including the National Minimum Wage and paid annual leave.
The Mayor’s answer did not assess that allegation, saying employment disputes fall outside TfL’s remit.
TfL licenses London taxi and private hire vehicles, drivers and private hire operators under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998. The Mayor said the authority checks applicants against statutory requirements and licensing conditions, and monitors compliance during the licence period.
However, he said TfL does not have powers to regulate courier app companies. The response therefore draws a distinction between TfL’s licensing role in taxi and private hire services and the employment status of people working through digital platforms.
The Mayor pointed to TfL’s Vision Zero Action Plan 2, through which the authority is asking the Government to improve regulation of driving and riding for work. Its proposals include stronger accountability for platforms that use self-employed contractors and dedicated health and safety rules for work-related road risk.
The answer leaves employment status and related rights to specialist tribunals, while placing responsibility for any wider regulatory change with central Government. It does not set out a timetable for new rules or explain what action the Mayor expects the Government to take next.
The Mayor said: “Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2025/1014, which clarifies that drivers’ pay, employment rights, and any alleged breaches of employment law are matters for specialist tribunals, and are not areas Transport for London (TfL) regulates.
“As stated in my response to Mayor’s Question 2025/2107, TfL is the licensing authority and regulator for Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) services in London. It regulates PHV services in accordance with the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998.
“TfL licenses taxi vehicles and PHVs, taxi and PHV drivers, and PHV operators. It will ensure an applicant meets statutory requirements and licensing conditions before granting a licence, and that, once licensed, licensing requirements and regulations are complied with during the licence period.
“Similarly, TfL does not have the powers to regulate courier app companies. Through its Vision Zero Action Plan 2, TfL is calling on Government to improve regulation of driving and riding for work, including by strengthening accountability for platform companies that engage self-employed contractors in the gig economy, and by developing dedicated health and safety regulation for work-related road risk.”
