Taskflare Business Summary
We are a cross-platform C2C and B2C mobile app that allows users to either register as customers or taskers. Registered taskers are independent contractors that can go online to work anytime, anywhere. Customers assign tasks to get instant errand, shopping and delivery/courier services while taskers accept and complete those tasks in exchange for payment. Our main source of revenue comes from a 20% commission per in-app task transaction. Some tasks require purchases (e.g. buy me a hat from the shop) and we included the Task Wallet feature where the customer can redeem money to Taskflare’s bank account and taskers will pay using Taskflare’s depository for their required products during tasks using NFC. Remaining money from tasks will be reversed to the customer’s account for future use. The Task Wallet feature can be enabled or disabled by the customer before requesting a task depending if purchases are needed in the task or not.
—————————————————————————
Questions
1) Are employed and unemployed people allowed to work as individual contractors through a courier/personal shopping app in the UAE (similar to uber drivers who can go online and work anytime, anywhere)?
– Uber drivers are classified as employees of Uber, not independent contractors. If your app operates the same way as Uber, those people will be referred to as employees, not independent contractors.
2) Our economic activities are:
– E-Commerce Through Websites
– E-Commerce Through Social Media
– Services Broker
Must we add Courier/Express Delivery as an additional economic activity or should we not since we just have individual contractors and not actual employees that do the delivery jobs?
- Since they are employees and not independent contractors, you have to add Courier/Express Delivery as an additional activity. In this case your app, through the employees, will be the one offering Courier/Express Delivery services and not independent contractors.
3) Are 16-year-olds allowed to work as taskers (independent contractors that work as part time couriers/personal shoppers) for tasks that take less than 5km and on-foot/scooters/bicycles? Or should we push the minimum limit to 18?
– To completely avoid running into problems with the law, only employ persons above the age of 18.
4) How can I protect myself legally from piggy-backers and competitors in the UAE and worldwide?
– If the idea is completely novel, you can obtain a patent.
5) Are our recruitment requirements enough? Must there be any specific background checks for our taskers?
* • On foot
– Documents required: Emirates ID (front and back)
* • Bicycle/Scooter
– Documents required: Emirates ID (front and back)
– Picture of bicycle/scooter with face visible
* • Car – Van- Truck – Tow-truck
– Documents required: Emirates ID (front and back), Car Registration (front and back), Driver License (front and back)
– It is not necessary. Background checks are usually conducted in high-risk environments. If you don’t conduct high-risk operations, taskers’ identification is sufficient.
6) Are we allowed to monitor chats between customers and taskers for safety and quality assurance purposes?
– Yes. Only chats from the app should be monitored. Inform the taskers and customers that you will be monitoring chats between them. Monitoring chats is good as it also helps you resolve disputes between taskers and customers.
7) We will be collecting and measuring geographic location data of taskers and customers to enhance our services- is that legal? They will be asked to enable location services. Do we have to display a prompt to announce our doings and intentions with their location data?
– Yes, it is legal. You have to display the prompt. You must also inform taskers and customers that their location data will not be shared to third parties without their written consent. You must also provide an option for those who do not wish to be tracked to leave the app.
8) Can freelancers and non-freelancers / employed or unemployed become independent contractors?
– Freelancers are independent contractors since they perform services for more than one person/entity instead of being exclusively employed by a person/entity.
9) Is there anything else that you would like to add that we might be missing legally?
– Note the difference between contracts signed by employees and those signed by independent contractors. Contracts signed by employees are known as contracts of service while those signed by independent contractors are known as contracts for service.
10) Do you have any extra advice or suggestions?
– No.
At Legal writing experts, we would be happy to assist in preparing any legal document you need. We are international lawyers and attorneys with significant experience in legal drafting, Commercial-Corporate practice and consulting. In the last few years, we have successfully undertaken similar assignments for clients from different jurisdictions. If given this opportunity, we will be able to prepare the legal document within the shortest time possible.