A former Uber driver who won a landmark case against the taxi giant two years ago, is set to appear in court once again next week as the firm appeals the ruling.

Yaseen Aslam, from High Wycombe, originally brought an employment case against Uber with trade union GMB and colleague James Farrar on behalf of a group of 19 of its workers, who argued they were employed by the firm rather than being limb B workers - a legal term to describe a self-employed person who carries out their work as part of someone else’s business - because they were “being told how to do their jobs”.

The drivers are now being represented by a legal team from the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) trade union.

The judge ruled that Uber drivers, part of the so-called gig economy, are not self-employed and should be granted basic employment rights such as being paid the national minimum wage and getting holiday pay, which means thousands of Uber drivers will be able to claim lost earnings.

Mr Aslam, who started working for the company in 2013, said at the time that the ruling would protect drivers, some who told him were earning £5 an hour while working 16 hour days.

Uber said in 2016 it would appeal the decision, and has now pledged to “do everything that we can” to preserve its relationship with drivers ahead of the hearing next Tuesday.

Chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi insisted the ability of drivers to log on and off from Uber at any time is “the number one reason that our driver partners around the world tell us that they love the service”.

Mr Khosrowshahi said: “We will do everything that we can to preserve that flexibility and preserve that power for our driver partners because every single one that I talk to says that they absolutely treasure it.”

In June, five Supreme Court justices upheld court rulings that determined plumber Gary Smith, who worked for Pimlico Plumbers for nearly six years from 2005, could claim “worker” status, even though he was described in his contract as a “self-employed operative”.

Asked about the relevance of the case to Uber, Mr Khosrowshahi said: “I think the facts in terms of how our platform is architected is quite different from Pimlico Plumbers and we’re hoping that that comes out appropriately.”

Mr Farrar said: “Drivers have long ago given up on Uber to do the right thing and that is why so many will be joining our march next week with other precarious workers, as we get ready to face down yet another appeal from Uber on the worker rights case we already won on two occasions.”