Australia Moves to Establish Minimum Pay and Protections for Food Delivery Drivers

Millions of gig workers, often students and migrants, are at heightened risk of exploitation due to irregular hours, insecure contracts, and limited access to workplace protections.

In a world-first move, the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) and Australia’s two largest food delivery platforms, Uber Eats and DoorDash, have joined together to propose a historic agreement setting minimum pay and new protections for delivery drivers. The Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Chris Evans, welcomes this development, noting it is a significant step towards protecting gig workers from exploitation.

The agreement has been submitted to the Fair Work Commission for approval. If ratified, the deal will establish a minimum safety-net rate of $31.30 per hour, effective from 1 July 2026, with a further increase from 1 January 2027. The protections will apply across all modes of transport used by delivery drivers and include new representation rights, accident insurance, dispute resolution processes, and feedback mechanisms.

“The growth of gig work presents real opportunities, but also clear risks of exploitation. This agreement is a positive step in the right direction to protect delivery workers from unsafe and unfair practices, and to reduce vulnerability to more serious harms, including modern slavery,” said Commissioner Evans. “It demonstrates what can be achieved when workers, unions and platforms negotiate in good faith, and it provides an important model for improving protections across the gig economy.”

The gig economy has expanded rapidly worldwide and is increasingly recognised as an at-risk sector for labour exploitation and modern slavery, due to irregular work arrangements, opaque pay structures, and limited access to workplace protections. Improvements to minimum standards for delivery workers in Australia could set an important precedent for other jurisdictions and sectors of gig work.

“While this agreement focuses on food delivery, it sends a broader message about the importance of fair, safe, and transparent work in all parts of the gig economy. Australia has an opportunity to lead by example, showing that even non-traditional work can provide dignity, security, and protection against exploitation,” said Commissioner Evans.