Uber drivers owed US$730m in expenses had they been employees

San Francisco

DRIVERS who worked for ride-hailing service Uber in California and Massachusetts over the past seven years would have been entitled to an estimated US$730 million in expense reimbursements had they been employees rather than contractors, according to court documents made public on Monday.

Uber and smaller rival Lyft are attempting to settle lawsuits by drivers who contend they should be classified as employees and therefore entitled to reimbursement for expenses, including petrol and vehicle maintenance. Drivers currently pay those costs themselves.