Gig companies skipped a crucial public hearing in Queensland Parliament aimed at improving protections for gig workers, raising questions about their commitment to worker safety and rights.
Queensland Unions Assistant General Secretary, Jared Abbott, criticised the absence of gig companies like Uber at the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation hearing. He suggested that their no-show highlighted the industry’s hypocrisy and disregard for the well-being of its workforce.
In their written submissions to the committee, some gig companies argued against inclusion in the Queensland Workers’ Compensation scheme, claiming a higher likelihood of fraud among their workers compared to other industries. Abbott challenged this assertion, highlighting the urgent need for safety measures and better conditions for gig workers.
Abbott expressed his frustration, stating, “These workers deserve to know why a company profiting from their labour labels them as potential criminals. This hearing was a chance for gig companies to back up their claims, but they chose to remain silent and avoid accountability.”
The hearing was seen as a significant opportunity for gig companies to address their controversial claims and show their commitment to worker safety. Instead, their absence reinforced public perception of a profit-driven sector that neglects its vulnerable workforce. Abbott drew an analogy, likening gig companies to an unreliable parent who fails to show up for their child, describing them as “reliably hopeless.”
Despite gig companies’ claims of robust worker protections, Abbott pointed out the glaring inadequacies in health and safety measures for gig workers. He welcomed the hearing as a positive step towards changing Queensland’s workers’ compensation system to include gig workers, thus granting them access to essential benefits.
Abbott also highlighted a recent incident in Brisbane’s Mt Ommaney, where a ride-share driver was violently attacked and robbed. This event underscored the urgent need for legislative changes that would allow gig workers to access compensation benefits in such situations, providing financial support during recovery or for dependents in the case of fatal incidents.
“Having gig workers covered by the scheme will not only provide a safety net for some of the most vulnerable workers in society but will also push companies to implement proper health and safety measures,” Abbott asserted.
The call for inclusion in the workers’ compensation scheme is part of a broader effort to improve the conditions and protections for gig workers, ensuring they are not left vulnerable by the very companies they help to thrive.
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