Today is an historic moment for food delivery workers, with an expert panel in the Fair Work Commission hearing evidence from around the industry. This marks a major step towards world-first standards on pay and working conditions for tens of thousands of gig workers.
This landmark achievement follows a joint submission made between the TWU, Uber Eats and DoorDash last year, for a proposed Minimum Standards Order (MSO) on a safety net on pay, 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.
Food delivery workers from around the country will share their experiences on the urgent need to deliver standards on working conditions and wages:
· Alexi, who work 50 hours a week making deliveries, but still barely able to pay their bills or put away any savings.
· Joseph who feels pressured to take more risks while making deliveries, in order to meet unrealistic timelines and avoid penalties for late deliveries, or a bad rating from customers.
· Khushdeep whose account was deactivated due to an arbitrary rating system for issues that were outside of his own control.
Michael Kaine, TWU National Secretary
"Gig workers have fought long and hard for a better industry, and now they are closer than ever to world-first standards on pay and conditions.
"After years of below-minimum wage pay, no transparency and the constant threat of arbitrary deactivation hanging over their heads, tens of thousands of food delivery workers could soon see life-changing increases to their pay and conditions.
"Gig workers will tell the Fair Work Commission next week why these standards are urgent: they are currently being forced to work long hours, rush deliveries, and take risks on the road, just to make ends meet.
"Our ongoing discussions with UberEats and DoorDash have been a constructive step forward towards desperately needed protections for gig workers who have been exploited for far too long.
"We look forward to the Fair Work Commission considering the joint submission and evidence from across the industry and working towards fairness for all food delivery workers."
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.
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.
