Uber Signs Historic Deal With Giant Australian Workers Union

WhatsAppWhatsAppFacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterPinterestPinterestRedditRedditGmailGmailShareShare

AustraliaAustralia Australia – Gig workers will not be covered properly under work for service providers like Uber and the likes worldwide. Uber in Australia has now agreed to lay down rules and regulations that guarantee minimum standards for all gig economy workers and the right to unionize.

Inking a deal with The Transport Workers Union, the battle has been won for a 100,000 drivers and food delivery workers. In a joint statement, Uber and the union have acknowledged the efforts made by the Australian government to have set up an independent body to create standards across the sector.

Gig workers and their economy has been marginalized while they make for a huge segment of workers that support aggregators, e-retailers and ecommerce giants too.

A 2020 survey by the Transport Workers Union found 73 per cent of food delivery drivers were worried about “being seriously injured or killed at work” — although safety concerns are not limited to Australia, or Uber.

Related Posts

The need for safety and well-being have become more prominent as cases of deaths increased amongst gig-workers or delivery boys. In 2019 the cases started increasing across the US and Australia. Last week, an Australian court ruled in favour of slain gig worker Xiaojun Chen, who was killed on the job in 2020 while working for food delivery service Hungry Panda, was an employee, not a contractor. His family was awarded an A$830,000 (US$573,000) compensation.

This has been a monumental decision and the first of its kind in favour of a gig worker’s rights. Uber’s general manager in Australia, Dom Taylor, conceded that the company and the union “may not seem like obvious allies”, but the deal struck between the two would “improve workers’ protections”. “We want to see a level playing field for the industry and preserve the flexibility that gig workers value most,” he said. The deal comes in the wake of Australia’s May election of a centre-left Labor government that has previously supported reforms.

About Dr. Neha Mathur

Join Dr. Neha Mathur on a journey of compassion and expertise as she navigates the intricate landscape of human rights and workers' welfare.

Dr. Neha Mathur

Join Dr. Neha Mathur on a journey of compassion and expertise as she navigates the intricate landscape of human rights and workers' welfare.

Recent Posts

Work-Life Balance the Japanese Way: What Is Yutori and Why You Need It

In today's frantic world, the Japanese philosophy of Yutori provides a refreshing alternative to the hustle mentality. Meaning "room to…

June 14, 2025

Taiwan Welcomes Filipinos with Extended Visa Free Entry Until 2026

An extension of Taiwan's visa-free travel programme for Philippine passport holders has been renewed for another year. This extension allows…

June 14, 2025

Judge Blocks Rubio’s Plan to Lay Off 2,000 State Department Employees

A federal judge in San Francisco has temporarily prevented Secretary of State Marco Rubio from laying off almost 2,000 U.S.-based…

June 14, 2025

eShram Card  for Unorganized Workers Full Guide: Who Can Apply, Required Documents and How to Check Balance

Launched on August 26, 2021 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment the eShram Card is the pioneering initiative of…

June 13, 2025

Unilever Under Fire: Ivory Coast Workers Accuse Unilever of Union Rights Violations

Employees at Unilever Côte d’Ivoire have alleged that the company severed its collective bargaining agreement with employees amid plans to…

June 13, 2025

Bulgaria Opens Doors to 70,000 Migrants Workers to Tackle Labour Shortage

During a parliamentary committee meeting, Bulgaria's social minister Borislav Gutsanov stated that between 50,000 and 70,000 migrants from foreign countries…

June 13, 2025