The Andrews Labor Government is seeking community input into Australian-first standards to provide fairer conditions for on-demand workers and greater transparency from platforms.
Minister for Industrial Relations Tim Pallas today released the Fair Conduct and Accountability Standards Consultation Paper for the gig economy workforce and invited Victorians to share their views on reforms.
The Government has previously announced that it would support in full or in principle all 20 recommendations made in the of the Inquiry into the Victorian On-Demand Workforce,andthe 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.
There is little regulation and guidance for non-employee gig economy workers about matters relating to their work arrangements and the Government is proposing to introduce standards for platforms – which would be a national first. The Government will consider options available to it to achieve compliance with the standards.
Some platforms have already introduced measures to establish standards and improve benefits for non-employee on-demand workers.
Views expressed during 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.
For more information and to have your say on the standards, visit . Submissions are open until 4 February 2022.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industrial Relations Tim Pallas
“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.”
“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.”
Quote attributable to Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industrial Relations Nick Staikos
“The development of standards for platforms is a national first – platform arrangements are often opaque and the national system of work laws and associated regulations is not fit-for-purpose for this growing workforce.”
Reviewed 20 December 2021