Hey Bing, what do you have to say?
According to the “closing the loopholes bill”, the minimum conditions for gig workers in Australia would include:
- Minimum pay rates, which could be based on hourly, block, or job rates, depending on the nature of the work.
- Penalty rates for working on weekends, public holidays, or outside normal hours.
- Superannuation contributions from the digital platform or the client.
- Payment terms that ensure timely and accurate payment of wages and entitlements.
- Record-keeping obligations that require the digital platform or the client to keep accurate records of the work performed and the payments made.
- Insurance coverage that provides adequate protection for personal injury, property damage, and third-party liability arising from the work.
- Deactivation protection that prevents the digital platform from removing or suspending a gig worker from the app without a valid reason and a fair process.
These minimum conditions would be set by the Fair Work Commission, which would have the power to make orders for specific industries or occupations, based on the applications and submissions of the parties involved. The orders would apply to gig workers who have low bargaining power, low authority over their work, or receive pay at or below the rates of comparable employees1
The bill also proposes to introduce portable entitlements for annual leave, sick leave, and long service leave for gig workers and other insecure workers, in collaboration with state and territory governments2
The bill is currently being debated in Parliament and has not yet been passed into law. If you want to learn more about the bill and its implications for gig workers, you can read some of the articles that I found from the web:
- Closing Loopholes Bill split in two: Wage theft and labour hire amendments passed the Senate today
- Gig economy workers: Labor’s plan to boost job security, pay and entitlements
- Australia: Legal Update: Gig economy employment update
- New minimum pay rates for gig workers worth ‘small increase’ to pizza prices, Labor says