5 June 2024
The Parliamentary Committee inquiring into the Gig Economy has called on the State Government to develop accountability standards that guarantee minimum pay and conditions for gig workers alongside a raft of other recommendations in its report tabled in State Parliament today.
The Committee was initiated by Labor’s Irene Pnevmatikos and established in February last year. MLC Robert Simms became Chair of the Committee following Ms Pnevmatikos’ retirement from Parliament in October.
Some of the key recommendations of the inquiry include:
- Developing accountability standards for platforms operating in SA (including minimum pay and conditions)
- Investigating portable leave for gig workers
- Developing strategies to ensure international students and migrant workers receive consistent information on their rights at work and different employee arrangements.
- Considering amendments to state procurement policies to prioritise local companies who directly employ workers or meet minimum standards for gig workers.
- Investigating amendments to payroll tax systems to consider applying the same obligations to digital platforms as to businesses who directly employ workers.
The full report of Committee can be accessed at the link: https://committees.parliament.sa.gov.au/committee/424/The%20Gig%20Economy/55/55th%20Parliament%2003%2F05%2F2022%20-%20Current/55
“The Committee heard evidence that gig economy workers face widespread exploitation and mistreatment because they lack the legislative safeguards provided to workers in other industries. It has made a raft of recommendations that would ensure that they receive the protections they rightly deserve. I look forward to the Government’s response to the inquiry and hope that these recommendations are actioned,” said Robert Simms MLC.
“I want to acknowledge the work of the Honourable Irene Pnevmatikos in establishing the Committee and thank her for her contribution to the inquiry as Chairperson.”
The Committee included representatives from Labor and the Liberals as well as the Greens. It received evidence from over a dozen stakeholders, including representatives of SA Unions, Uber, and DoorDash.