Member-only story
A Web of ‘Partner’ Companies Keeps Uber Out of Trouble in Poland
Uber’s intermediaries often cut abusive deals with drivers, adding a layer of uncertainty to an already precarious work arrangement
Oleksiy’s first job after immigrating to Poland from western Ukraine was in a bakery. But the work was taxing, and he fell ill from going back and forth between the oven area and the refrigerated section. So when he heard from a friend about an opportunity to drive for Uber in Warsaw, he jumped on it. A 35-year-old man with the bubbly energy of a teenager, Oleksiy likes cars and enjoys working with people. He now works 13 or 14 hour days, subsisting only on fruits and vegetables, a diet which he claims is the secret to his vitality.
Driving for Uber was a better job, with less strenuous work, better pay, and a flexible schedule. In order to sign up for an Uber account and start working, though, drivers in Poland like Oleksiy have to become formally self-employed — a very cumbersome process for the driver.
The self-employed status, which is different from just working as a freelancer, isn’t merely a matter of which tax form to use. You have to register with the government as a company and with the tax agency as a value added tax (VAT) payer. You need to pay for the…
