Taxi firm Uber has lost an appeal against a ruling on the employment rights of drivers.

The GMB union said a ruling by the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) was a 'landmark victory' for workers' rights, especially in the gig economy.

Two drivers, James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam, won an employment tribunal case last year after arguing that they were 'workers' and entitled to the minimum wage, sick pay and paid leave.

Uber challenged the ruling at the Employment Appeal Tribunal in central London, saying it could deprive drivers of the 'personal flexibility they value'.

Maria Ludkin, the GMB's legal director, said: 'This landmark decision is a yet more vindication of GMB's campaign to ensure drivers are given the rights they are entitled to and that the public, drivers and passengers are kept safe.

She added: 'Uber must now face up to its responsibilities and give its workers the rights to which they are entitled.

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'Uber should throw in the towel and accept today's judgment. No company, however big or well-connected, is above the law. Uber must play by the rules and stop denying its drivers basic rights at work.

'This ruling should put gig economy employers on notice. Unions will expose nasty schemes that try and cheat workers out of the minimum wage and holiday pay.

The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which represented the two drivers, said the decision showed that firms were choosing to deprive workers of their rights.

Mr Aslam said; 'I have been campaigning against Uber since 2014 and, although I always knew I was on the right side, it has always been a struggle that has brought enormous pressure on us.

'I am glad that the judge today confirmed what I and thousands of drivers have known all along: that Uber is not only exploiting drivers, but also acting unlawfully. We will carry on fighting until this exploitation stops and workers' rights are respected.'

Mr Farrar said: 'Uber cannot go on flouting UK law with impunity and depriving people of their minimum wage rights. We have done everything we can, now it is time for the Mayor of London, Transport for London and the Transport Secretary to step up and use their leverage to defend worker rights rather than turn a blind eye to sweatshop conditions.'

Uber announced that it will appeal against the ruling.

Tom Elvidge, Uber UK's acting general manager, said: 'Almost all taxi and private hire drivers have been self-employed for decades, long before our app existed.

'The main reason why drivers use Uber is because they value the freedom to choose if, when and where they drive, and so we intend to appeal.

'The tribunal relies on the assertion that drivers are required to take 80% of trips sent to them when logged into the app. As drivers who use Uber know, this has never been the case in the UK.

'Over the last year we have made a number of changes to our app to give drivers even more control. We've also invested in things like access to illness and injury cover and we'll keep introducing changes to make driving with Uber even better.'