Australia gig delivery drivers get A$31.30 hourly pay

Australia's Fair Work Commission has ordered new minimum standards for delivery drivers on online platforms, setting pay at Aus$31.30, or US$22, an hour from August 17.

The order, issued Tuesday, applies to drivers working for platforms such as UberEats and HungryPanda. Australia's minimum wage is currently Aus$26.44 an hour.

The new rules also require workplace accident insurance for the drivers.

The Transport Workers Union, which represents gig workers, welcomed the decision. National Secretary Michael Kaine said gig workers in Australia had been left outside workplace systems for too long and called the standards world-leading.

The union jointly applied for the new standard with DoorDash and UberEats.

Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth described the decision as a milestone in delivering stronger protections and a fairer safety net for gig economy workers.

The World Bank estimated in 2023 that there were up to 435 million online gig workers worldwide. In June, the International Labour Organization adopted a convention aimed at extending job protections to gig workers.