A California agency is suing Uber and Lyft over alleged wage theft, saying the ride-hailing companies have misclassified drivers as independent contractors.

The state’s Department of Industrial Relations announced Wednesday that the Labor Commissioner’s Office filed separate lawsuits against the two California-based companies over their classification of drivers.

“The Uber and Lyft business model rests on the misclassification of drivers as independent contractors,” said California Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower in a statement. “This leaves workers without protections such as paid sick leave and reimbursement of drivers’ expenses, as well as overtime and minimum wages.”

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García-Brower’s office said nearly 5,000 drivers have filed complaints against Uber and Lyft for owed wages. She said misclassification also affects other expenses for drivers.

A spokesperson for Uber told The Verge in a statement that the majority of drivers want to work independently, adding that the company has made alterations to the app to ensure drivers remain independent under state law.

“When 3 million Californians are without a job, our leaders should be focused on creating work, not trying to shut down an entire industry,” the spokesperson said.

The Hill has reached out to Uber and Lyft for comment.

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