A California judge on Friday found that the 2020 ballot measure that exempts ride-share and food delivery drivers from the state labour law, is unconstitutional. The judge ruled that the ballot violates the legislature’s power to set workplace standards, Reuters reported.

“It limits the power of a future legislature to define app-based drivers as workers subject to workers’ compensation law”, making the entire measure unenforceable, the judge wrote.

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Proposition 22, the ballot measure under question was aimed to establish app-based food delivery and ride-hail drivers’ status as independent contractors and not employees.

The ballot measure came after gig economy companies such as Uber, Lyft, Doordash, and Instacart were rooting to keep the status of drivers as independent contractors and not employees, but with additional benefits.

The measure was the outcome of long-drawn efforts of years of legal and legislative contentions over gig business model, a model that has given millions of people the convenience of ordering food or a ride with the push of a button.

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However, judge Frank Roes of the Alameda County Superior Court, said that the measure is unconstitutional and unenforceable.

Unhappy with the ruling, the Protect App-Based Drivers and Services Coalition, said in a statement, “We will file an immediate appeal and are confident the Appellate Court will uphold Prop 22.”

Gig Workers Rising, a group that advocates the rights and benefits of the workers welcomed and appreciated the ruling.

“Prop 22 has always been an illegal corporate power grab that not only stole the wages, benefits and rights owed to gig workers but also ended the regulating power of our elected officials,” Gig Workers Rising told Reuters after the ruling.

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Gig economy companies are based on a model that advocates temporary, flexible jobs and tends to hire independent contractors and freelancers instead of full-time employees. A gig economy is the complete opposite of the traditional economy of full-time workers who often focus on their career development.