AceBusinessDesk – A quarter of a million Australians will soon have access to minimum standards at work for the first time after the federal government secured the final vote needed to pass its latest industrial relations reforms.

Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: Feb.10: 2024: ABC Business News:Published: Wednesday 07 Feb 2024 at 6:57PM: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News Link https://t.me/+PuI36tlDsM7GpOJe

The second tranche of the Closing Loopholes legislation introduces new powers for the Fair Work Commission to set minimum standards for gig economy workers, like rideshare and food delivery drivers.

Those workers will now be considered “employee-like” if they meet certain criteria.

That list includes that the worker is engaged under a services contract, performs digital platform work and has low bargaining power in relation to that contract.

Utsav Bhattarai is one of the 250,000 gig workers who will benefit from the changes.

The Canberra-based driver has been delivering food for more than two years and said the reforms would empower them for the first time.

“We’re not asking for much. If we get minimum pay rates we will have more freedom about when we want to work,” he said.

Mr Bhattarai said as the industry stands he is under immense pressure with little to no reward.

“We have to drive until we’re exhausted because we are not making minimum wage,” he said.

“We’re pressurised every day to deliver as quickly as we can so that we’re not deactivated.

“I’ve worked 10 hours and made less than $100.

“We will now have protections in place so that we can work safely and we’ll have proper instruments for when things go wrong.”

Pocock holds deciding vote

The proposed changes have been criticised for potential increases to the price of goods with Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke previously declaring “if there’s a tiny bit extra you pay when your pizza arrives and they’re more likely to be safe on the roads, then I reckon it’s a pretty small price to pay”.

The Coalition is firmly opposed to the reform.

Liberal senator Matt O’Sullivan on Wednesday branded it “the single worst piece of industrial relations policy for three decades”.

Given that opposition, the government required the support of the Greens and at least two independent senators to pass the legislation.

After months of negotiating they sealed the deal with Senator David Pocock on Wednesday afternoon, in return for a series of amendments.

Senator Pocock said his constituents were supportive of the change and recognised small cost increases were necessary to protect workers.

Most people I’ve spoken to say, ‘Well if it means that the person delivering my pizza can actually put food on the table themselves, if that means it’s going to be a bit more expensive, then I think that’s a cost we ‘re going to have to wear’,” he said.

“How do we have a system where we’ve got these services that are relying on people who are so desperate that they’re doing a job that they can’t actually make ends meet.

“The hope is with this legislation having minimum standards, [it] will ensure that people can get paid for the work that they do.”

The bill also includes a raft of other changes such as a pathway for casuals wanting to convert to more permanent work, a new definition of employment and protections for road transport workers.

It also introduces a “right to disconnect”, preventing employees from being disadvantaged for not answering calls or emails outside of work hours.

The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation on Thursday.

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