The Transport Workers' Union is calling for remaining food delivery companies like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Hungry Panda and Easi to urgently get behind standards in the gig economy, as Menulog shuts down.
With the app no longer to be available in two weeks' time, the TWU is calling for workers to be prioritised and paid for their work, including a fair exit payment.
The TWU campaigned for over a decade during successive Coalition governments for standards in the gig economy, which was pushing workers outside of Australian workplace protections, but they refused to act.
Now with new laws introduced last year by the Albanese government enabling the Fair Work Commission to set standards in the gig economy, the TWU is calling on delivery platforms like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Hungry Panda and Easi to get on board to ensure there are decent standards in place as quickly as possible.
Menulog had supported legislation to put gig economy standards in place, but after a decade of neglect from former Coalition governments standards have not come quickly enough for the platform. Its exit follows the collapse of Deliveroo and Foodora, both companies which rallied against decent protections for transport gig workers.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said:
"This will be a shock to the thousands of food delivery riders who rely on Menulog for income. We will be working to ensure those workers receive pay for their work and fair exit payments over the coming weeks.
"In the gig economy, workers are still languishing with below-minimum wage rates, no sick leave or superannuation, and deadly pressure to rush to make a living and avoid being deactivated.
"Menulog wanted to do the right thing by its workforce but years of regulatory neglect by Coalition governments has meant that change has come too late.
"We are paying the price for Coalition governments' inaction now, not just with jobs that are exploitative and dangerous, but with less options for customers in an unsustainable industry engaged in a race to the bottom.
"We urgently need standards in the gig economy to stop the relentless downward spiral. New laws introduced by the Albanese government will significantly level the playing field - but DoorDash, Uber Eats, Hungry Panda and Easi now need to come to the table to ensure we get standards in place as soon as possible."
