Uber Eats’ Barcelona headquarters is under investigation by Spain’s Labour Inspection over how the company employs its delivery riders. Inspectors visited the office months ago and collected documents, sources close to the case confirmed.
The collected paperwork is now being analysed in Madrid. Moreover, a specialised unit is handling the case. The goal is to verify that Uber Eats follows legal requirements for classifying workers as employees rather than self-employed contractors.
Spain approved the Rider Law in 2021 following agreements between employers and unions. The law regulates workers who deliver or distribute products through digital platforms. Therefore, companies must treat riders as salaried employees, not independent contractors.
Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz spoke out Thursday. Uber won’t mess with Spain’s government, she warned. She added that the law will come down hard on the company for violations it’s showing in our country.
Díaz noted that Labour Inspection has acted before the law existed. Indeed, many rulings from social jurisdiction courts confirmed these were cases of false self-employment. The courts repeatedly sided with workers claiming employee status.
Furthermore, the government even reformed the Penal Code. A new provision specifically addresses platforms using false self-employment for delivery riders. Díaz emphasised this wasn’t done for nothing but to eliminate a serious deficiency.
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