CAB-HAILING phone application Uber’s authors will face legal action for pocketing more than half of drivers’ takings, leaving them to scrape up less than the minimum wage.

General union GMB, which has Uber drivers among its members, will seek to claim back the underpayment at an employment tribunal against the Dutch firm, which has already come under fire for not paying tax in Britain.

One London-based GMB member who works exclusively for Uber was paid an average of £5.03 per hour for 234 hours he worked during August after Uber trousered £2.65 for each working hour.

This left the driver paid £1.47 below the minimum hourly rate.

Uber drivers must also pay for licensing, their MOT, road tax, maintenance, Transport for London inspections, fuel, insurance and parking.

“This fall in drivers’ incomes poses a threat to public safety,” said GMB professional drivers’ branch secretary Steve Garelick.

“This is because as driver incomes fall they have to work more hours to make the same money. Uber don’t control hours and neither do Transport for London.”

GMB plans to recover cash from the firm on the basis that drivers are “directed workers.”

The union has instructed law firm Leigh Day to make a case that Uber is in breach of its legal duty to provide workers with basic rights to pay, holidays, safety and raising complaints.

Reps are asking drivers to keep detailed records of their hours and pay as a basis for underpayment claims.