An ambitious plan by the state government could soon drastically improve fair pay and conditions for food delivery drivers in Victoria.
The plan, which is being spearheaded by Minister for Industrial Relations Tim Pallas, would see the creation of a new independent tribunal to set minimum pay and conditions for food delivery drivers.
The tribunal would have the power to set minimum hourly rates, maximum hours of work, and other conditions such as rest breaks.
A dedicated support service would be provided to the impacted workers, treating them as typical employees, instead of contractors.
Deliveroo, UberEats, and DoorDash would have to provide information on how workers’ pay was calculated and if this was impacted by customer ratings.
The Victorian budget allocated $5.6m to implement a response inquiry.
The move comes after a series of reports into the exploitation of food delivery drivers, who are often paid below minimum wage rates and are not entitled to basic employment protections such as sick leave and annual leave.
If implemented, the plan would be a major victory for food delivery drivers, who have long been exploited by the industry. It would also be a major step forward for the rights of gig economy workers more generally.