- In September, the Seattle City Council unanimously voted to adopt new rules which force Uber and Lyft to let their drivers earn the city’s $16.69 minimum wage in 2021
- That means the rideshare companies will have to pay their drivers at least $0.56 per minute when they’re driving, along with a per-mile rate to cover expenses
- According to the City of Seattle, that standard will help make sure drivers make at least the city’s minimum wage
- Uber hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and lost around 80 percent of its ride volume as people sheltered at home early in the year
- While Lyft hasn’t announced a fare hike, the company said it might do so in the future if needed
- Uber, Lyft and other companies have faced pressure to negotiate with unions and labor groups to help reclassify gig workers there as full employees
