Gig economy workers face new regulations and pay disputes

In Australia, the Fair Work Commission has issued a ruling classifying food delivery riders as ‘on-demand delivery employee-like workers’. This decision establishes new minimum standards, including a safety net minimum rate of $31.30 per hour over a 21-day earnings period. The order requires platform operators to maintain personal accident insurance, while riders must maintain their own compulsory third-party vehicle insurance. Other mandates include provisions for record-keeping, dispute resolution, and the right to unpaid time away.

In Macau, food delivery riders have organized protests against the platform Aomi, citing repeated cuts to delivery fees and compensation. Riders have called for collective action, including a planned 24-hour offline strike, to protest what they describe as shifting operating costs onto frontline workers. The Macau Catering Industry Association has noted that while platforms optimize profits through high merchant commissions, riders are increasingly burdened by the costs of vehicles, fuel, and insurance without adequate protection.