Food delivery riders and parcel couriers across Australia could soon benefit from minimum employment standards as new laws come into effect.
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The Transport Workers Union (TWU) is set to apply to the Fair Work Commission on Wednesday for gig economy workers, including those with UberEats, Menulog, DoorDash, and Hungry Panda, to receive protections such as superannuation, personal injury insurance, and a minimum pay safety net.
These applications mark the first time independent contractors in the gig economy will have access to the Fair Work Commission.
The commission has established an expert panel to set standards to ensure that work in the transport sector is “safe, sustainable, and viable.”
The union said these “ground-breaking” new laws aim to ease some of the economic pressure faced by transport workers.
In the past decade, 1,785 people have been killed in truck crashes, and 486 transport workers have died on the job, including 19 gig workers.
Additionally, 3,577 transport businesses have become insolvent.
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt said the changes will prevent gig workers from “falling through the cracks.”
“Rideshare and food delivery workers shouldn’t have to choose between safety and getting paid.”
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