The New South Wales government has unveiled a draft bill to deliver extended protections to gig workers that will see them receive the same protections already offered to owner drivers, couriers and taxi drivers.
The state government is seeking industry and stakeholder input to deliver on a pre-election commitment to extend legal protections for gig workers and other precarious workers in the transport sector.
The modernised NSW Industrial Relations Act is now open for consultation, with the proposed amendments allowing platform companies, employers and unions to apply to the Industrial Relations Commission for binding determinations on the workers’ pay and conditions of employment.
The commission will be required to consider what is fair and reasonable while promoting efficiency and productivity in the economy of NSW.
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The proposed changes are set to determine fair and reasonable pay and conditions for rideshare and gig workers in the transport industry while correcting the historical exemption that prevented milk, cream and bread delivery drivers from having the same protections.
The amendments will also explore new offences of accessorial liability for those breaking the law in a supply chain while ensuring enforceable standards across road transport supply chains.
However, the changes won’t touch the livestock and produce transport areas, with the law to remain consistent with the federal government’s approach.
“We need to ensure our Industrial Relations system is fit for purpose,” NSW industrial relations minister Sophie Cotsis says.
“The public relies on gig workers in the transport industry every day, and workers can rely on us for the same legal protections.
“This is an important step in supporting the thousands of gig workers to ensure they have the same industrial rights to access the industrial relations commission.”
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