FOOD DELIVERY WORKERS TO GET WORLD-FIRST MINIMUM STANDARDS ON PAY AND CONDITIONS FROM AUGUST

The TWU has welcomed the Fair Work Commission’s decision handed down today which could see world-first standards on pay and working conditions for tens of thousands of gig workers operate from August 10.

The Fair Work Commission has issued a notice of intent and call for additional submissions ahead of the final decision.

This landmark achievement follows a joint submission made between the TWU, Uber Eats and DoorDash last year, for a proposed Minimum Standards Order (MSO) providing for a safety net on pay of at least $31.30 an hour, pay transparency, feedback forums, insurance requirements and union representation rights.

The TWU first made an application for an MSO in 2024, following laws passed by the Albanese Government to establish minimum standards for employee-like workers, like food delivery workers in the gig economy.

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said:

“Australians have come to rely on having food delivered to our doorstep from the magical click of a button, rain, hail or shine. But for too long gig workers have languished outside our workplace protections with below minimum pay, no voice at work and no protections, under deadly pressure to rush to make ends meet and avoid deactivation. Since 2017, 25 gig workers have been killed on our roads.

“This historic decision from the Fair Work Commission, after years of campaigning from gig workers, is set to give them rights and protections for the first time.

“This is an absolute world-leading set of standards in the gig economy which, when passed, will represent life-changing improvements for workers who were left behind by Coalition governments for over a decade.”

NOTES:

– The TWU has led the charge in securing reforms for workers in the gig economy, campaigning for years for laws to put in place minimum standards in the gig economy, after a decade of inaction by the Coalition government.

– Ahead of these laws being introduced, DoorDash and Uber both signed charters on fairness in the gig economy after significant pressure from gig workers.

– Internationally, the ACTU and the Transport Workers Union, were part of leading the push to secure a new Convention in the ILO which extends rights to workers in the gig and platform economy, including the right to be part of a union and to bargain as a group, regardless of whether they are considered employees.

The laws passed by the Albanese government have also provided:

– Stronger deactivation protections for workers, with a recent TWU win in the Fair Work Commission which blasted Uber’s “illogical and arbitrary” customer ratings system.

– Fair fuel cost recovery through an urgent Contract Chain Order which has seen gig platforms increase pay to gig workers on fuel costs.