Judge likely to reject request to shield companies from converting workers from independent contractors to employees with benefitsA taxi passes by an advertisement for the Uber car and ride-sharing service. Picture: REUTERS
A judge signalled on Friday that she is inclined to reject a request to temporarily shield the companies from Assembly Bill 5 , which is aimed at converting gig-economy workers from independent contractors to employees with benefits. US district judge Dolly M Gee said during a hearing in Los Angeles that it was “a steep hill to climb” for Uber and Postmates to argue that the statute irrationally targets the app-based companies on the grounds that many workers in other industries were exempt from it.
An Uber spokesperson and a lawyer for California declined to comment after the hearing. Legal experts say the lawsuit faces long odds due to the deference courts give legislatures to create laws to address policy problems.