New Legislation Ensures Gig Workers Minimum Pay, Superannuation, and Insurance
According to TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine, nearly 500 workers have died, and over 3,500 businesses have collapsed in the past decade alone.
With new laws now covering Australia’s 500,000 plus gig workers under the Fair Work Commission (FWC), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) is proposing significant reforms to establish minimum employment standards in these sectors.
These proposed reforms aim to provide essential protections for gig workers and road transport owner-drivers in the rapidly growing gig economy, especially in sectors like “last mile” delivery and broader road transport.
The proposals advocate for workers to receive notice of termination or payment as a substitute for that notice, in line with the Road Transport and Distribution Award.
They also call for the introduction of minimum hourly rates, adjusted for cost fluctuations like fuel prices, and for companies to provide weekly invoices to workers.
Furthermore, the proposals seek company-funded rest breaks and the right for workers to be informed about their representation rights through registered organizations like the TWU.
“For the first time, food delivery riders and drivers, as well as those involved in parcel and goods delivery, could benefit from a safety net on pay and entitlements,” reads their application.
The proposals also include provisions for the recovery of costs related to vehicle expenses, insurance, and labor, as well as company-funded superannuation, personal injury insurance, and safety training.
Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt, along with ACTU Secretary Sally McManus and TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine, lodged these applications at the FWC on Aug. 27.
They stated that these reforms are crucial to address the exploitation and unsafe conditions faced by gig workers working for companies like UberEats, DoorDash, Menulog, and Hungry Panda.
Kaine emphasized, “Gig workers have been killed, maimed, and exploited with no access to rights and protections until now.”
He added, “In the broader transport industry, almost 500 workers have died, and more than 3,500 businesses have collapsed over the last decade alone.”
The applications also introduce a “Contract Chain Order” to ensure that top-tier clients pay operators and drivers in full within 30 days.
This legislative push stems from concerns over the lack of protections for gig workers and road transport drivers in Australia.
In response to these issues, the federal government introduced a bill earlier this year to extend protection to gig workers under the FWC for the first time.
