Driving all day, copulating abuse from passengers and firing thousands of dollars of tolls could make it more enduring for ride-share drivers under new state protections.
However, one major player has labeled the long-standing New South Wales (NSW) regulations as “redundant” in light of existing federal regulations.
NSW’s Labour Government will submit a pre-2023 election pledge to better protect gig workers with the laws introduced in Congress.
As part of the change, the Labor and Management Relations Committee has the authority to determine fair and reasonable wages and conditions.
Labor and Management Minister Sophie Cotis said the law gives gig economy drivers the same rights as truck drivers, courier and taxi drivers.
“For ride-sharing gig workers, they didn’t have a level playing field,” she told reporters on March 20.
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“They can’t go to the Labor Relations Committee. What we do is that we provide that mechanism… Putting that very simply, we’re filling the gap.”
An Uber spokesman told AAP that given the introduction of national changes in 2023, the bill needs to be scrutinized to avoid confusion.
“The NSW government is taking several steps in this version of the bill to reduce the inherent duplication of federal reform, but remains redundant in light of the Loop Hole Act,” he said.
According to a spokesperson, federal protections were equally consistently applied to all Australians who work in the gig economy and to all Australians who work in the gig economy.
Under the state’s plan, eligible gig workers can apply to industrial judges to establish stone contract agreements that regulate wages and conditions.
Rosalina Pirozzi, a ride-sharing driver for over a decade, said her paycheck has dropped significantly as more apps have pop-ups and consumers have a big choice.
“When you take into account all the costs of fuel, maintenance, insurance, tolls, and (vehicle) registration into account for the week, drivers will be less than the minimum wage,” she said.
“We’re actually against our revenue, but everything’s on the rise.”
She hoped the change would provide concrete rights of work, improve the safety of thousands of workers, and provide minimum wage, sick leave and workers’ compensation.
Since 2017, 18 food delivery riders have been killed on Australian roads. Of these, 15 are in Sydney.
Nick McIntosh, NSW secretary for Transport Workers Union, said guardrails would be placed in spaces where regulations are not regulated.
“Finally, you don’t need to wake up one morning. You’ll have to look at the app and find your fees have dropped and work another two hours today to do the same as yesterday,” he said.
McIntosh said the profits will also extend to the struggled taxi industry by leveling the arena against apps like Uber and Didi.
“We don’t have a race to the bottom in terms of prices and conditions,” he said.
“We race to the top of service, technology and customer satisfaction.”
