Uber Applied sciences Inc on Monday proposed a plan for a versatile advantages fund for app-based ride-hail and meals supply drivers in Canada underneath which all gig {industry} gamers would share knowledge on staff’ hours and earnings.

Underneath the proposal outlined in an organization weblog submit, the fund would offer gig staff with money advantages to place towards a retirement or life insurance coverage plan, or to pay for medical or instructional bills.

The advantages fund can be enabled by Canada’s provincial governments, Uber stated within the weblog submit with out offering additional particulars, however managed by ride-hail and supply firms.

The businesses would share knowledge on drivers’ hours and earnings and pay into the fund proportionally. Employees would qualify for fund advantages in the event that they meet a threshold, which Uber’s Monday proposal didn’t disclose.

DoorDash Inc, Lyft Inc and Simply Eat Takeaway.com’s Grubhub didn’t instantly reply to requests for touch upon Uber’s proposal. Uber didn’t instantly reply to a request on whether or not the mannequin could possibly be prolonged to the USA.

Gig firms have lengthy been criticized for the shortage of advantages and protections they provide their unbiased contractor staff. Many labour unions, some lawmakers and the Biden administration, have stated gig staff ought to be reclassified as workers.

The businesses have rejected requires reclassification, citing surveys displaying that almost all of their staff don’t need to be workers.

In recent times, the businesses have begun proposing restricted profit fashions whereas sustaining staff’ contractor standing, together with in California the place voters accredited such a proposal final 12 months.

The businesses at occasions have argued that apportioning advantages is difficult by the truth that many drivers work for a number of platforms directly.

In a March weblog submit outlining its preliminary Canadian proposal, Uber advocated for industry-wide reforms that held each firm to the identical requirements.