Sarah Oliver
The Victorian government is seeking community input into Australian-first standards to provide fairer conditions for on-demand workers and greater transparency from platforms.
Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas released the Fair Conduct and Accountability Standards Consultation Paper today for the gig economy workforce and invited Victorians to share their views on reforms.
The gig economy refers to workers who are employed on a contract basis to do tasks for a set time with not much conversation with their employer.
These on-demand workers include ride-share drivers, people who do food shopping and deliveries and even dog walkers.
The government has previously announced that it would support in full or in principle all 20 recommendations made in the report of the Inquiry into the Victorian On-Demand Workforce.
The Victorian budget 2021-22 included $5.25 million in funding to start implementing this response.
Recommendations included that standards be developed on fair conditions and pay, consultation about work status and arrangements, consideration of parties’ bargaining power, fair and transparent independent dispute resolution, worker representation (including the ability to seek better work arrangements), and safety.
Some platforms have already introduced measures to establish standards and improve benefits for non-employee on-demand workers.
Feedback received through public consultation will help shape the final form of the standards as they are developed in coming months. Participation is invited from workers and unions, platforms, the wider business community and employer and industry associations, academics, and others in the community.
“We’re acting to help gig economy workers who often have little bargaining power and few options to earn a decent income in a precarious work environment,” Mr Pallas said.
“Whether you’re a gig economy worker, a person who benefits from the efforts of on-demand workers or a business operator, we want to hear your views on how we can best make the system fairer and more transparent.”
Details: bit.ly/3skUSeS
