The use of the “app” on your smart-phone to order food is an ever-increasing phenomenon. With a simple click on your phone, you can have a meal delivered to your door from a restaurant of your choosing in record time.
However, if we turn our minds to the delivery driver, it is disappointing to hear that the delivery driver or “gig worker” is one of Australia’s lowest paid and vulnerable workers. They are not entitled to minimum rates of pay and working conditions. Nor do they receive superannuation, annual holidays and sick leave that the majority of full-time/part time employees within Australia enjoy.
Most concerning is the fact that these workers do not enjoy the protection of workers compensation. Simply, the burden of medical expenses and wage loss falls upon them if they are injured in the course of their employment. With the upcoming state election, the NSW Labor party has announced a significant rewrite of state industrial laws. This rewrite of the NSW Industrial Relations Act would ensure the following:
(a) Minimum rates of pay and conditions for “Gig Workers”
(b) Entitlements to superannuation, annual holidays and sick leave
(c) Entitlement to Workers Compensation when injured.
Currently, this is a developing and un-tested area of law from a workers compensation perspective. It is therefore imperative that if you are a “gig worker” and have suffered an injury in the course of your employment that you seek legal advice immediately.
Get in touch with us
At Turner Freeman Lawyers, we specialise in Worker’s Compensation claims. If you or someone you know has been injured and you are unsure of their entitlements, we encourage you to call 13 43 63 to speak with one of our Personal Injury Specialists today. Our NSW offices are in Sydney, Parramatta, Campbelltown, Newcastle, Penrith, Wollongong and Gloucester.