AMBIGUITY OF JURISTIC RELATION BETWEEN RIDE-HAILING COMPANIES AND DRIVERS IN THAILAND: THE IMPERATIVE FOR NEW LEGAL INSTRUMENTS TO PRESERVE THE INTERMEDIARY BUSINESS NATURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Abstract

The rapid rise of ride-hailing platforms has introduced a complex web of legal and economic relationships between companies and drivers, challenging traditional classifications of their relationships with drivers. This paper examines the juristic relation between ride-hailing companies and their drivers through the lens of existing legal frameworks in Thailand. By analyzing key court decisions and legislative approaches in different jurisdictions, and the practical realities of these arrangements, the study highlights the undiscovered area in the current Thai legal instruments, and argues that these companies primarily function as intermediaries or brokers facilitating contracts between drivers and passengers. The research further demonstrates the inadequacies of existing legal frameworks to clearly address this triadic relationship and advocates for the development of new legal instruments to ensure fairness and accountability while fostering innovation in the platform economy.