- by Olwazi Mangun
- The Guardian
- Issue #2173
Photo: rawpixel.com (CC0).
Under a draft agreement, still to be approved by the Fair Work Commission, delivery drivers will be paid a minimum $32 an hour from July 2026. Riders will get at least $31.30.
Delivery worker Utsav Bhattarai said it was a win “ for every worker who can now take sick leave, who can now work 40, 50 hours and stay home, spend some time with their families.” He added, “We’re not talking about a decent pay, we’re talking about minimum wage.” Until now delivery drivers and riders have had no safeguards ensuring they are paid above minimum wage.
For some time, unions have argued that gig economy workers have been exploited by rideshare apps, without the limited entitlements enjoyed by the rest of the workforce, such as leave, injury insurance and union representation.
Now drivers and riders will also get access to accident insurance and more transparency around pay and dispute resolution processes.
Transport Workers’ Union national secretary Michael Kaine called the deal a reward for workers who have fought since 2017 to change their lives.
