The High Court has backed businesses’ right to engage workers outside of minimum wage laws and employment regulations, in a landmark ruling that could spark a surge in independent contracting and lends support to Uber and Deliveroo’s claims that their drivers are not employees.

In a unanimous decision handed down Wednesday, the High Court held two truck drivers who worked nine-hour days for a lighting company for almost 40 years but under a partnership arrangement were not employees entitled to minimum pay and conditions, including superannuation and annual leave.