Uber drivers are not employees, Fair Work Ombudsman rules

Transport Workers Union says the decision will be devastating for workers in the gig economy

The ridehailing company Uber does not directly employ its drivers, the Fair Work Ombudsman has said, because drivers have control over "whether, when, and for how long they perform work".

The decision comes after an investigation into whether Uber's "driver-partners" are lawfully classified as independent contractors or are effectively employees, as argued by unions and a lobby group, Ride Share Drivers United.