On Thursday, a Washington Governor signed into law a minimum pay standard for Uber and Lyft drivers, making Washington the first state in the US to implement income standards for ride-hail companies.
Across Washington, drivers will now earn a guaranteed minimum of $1.17 per mile and 34 cents per minute with a minimum pay of $3.00 per trip.
The new law will see drivers also be given access to paid sick leave, family medical leave, long-term care programmes, and be eligible for workers’ compensation. If removed from Uber or Lyft apps, drivers will now be able to appeal the decision.
"This new law decisively gives drivers what they want - to stay independent while gaining historic new benefits and protections," said Uber's head of public policy in the Western US, Ramona Prieto, in a statement. Prieto said Uber hoped the law could be replicated across other US states.
Seattle passed its own ride-hail pay standards back in September 2020, guaranteeing drivers minimum rates of $1.38 per mile and 59 cents per minute at a minimum of $5.17 per trip.
