The Gig Worker Support Service (GWSS) is a Victorian Government initiative to support gig workers and the first service of its kind in Australia.
What is gig work?
Gig work is work accessed through or organised by digital platforms. These digital platforms are websites or apps that match people that need work done with people who want to do that work. Gig workers can be employees or independent contractors (non-employee workers).
What are common gig work industries?
The Gig Worker Support Service is for gig workers and platforms in all industries. Gig work is well established in:
- transportation
- food delivery
- disability support and aged care.
Gig work is also common in a wide variety of other industries, including:
- creative industries (such as graphic design, writing, photography and videography)
- information technology (such as coding and software development)
- psychological counselling
- domestic services (such as cleaning and home maintenance).
How can the Gig Worker Support Service help?
The GWSS is committed to improving fairness and support for gig workers. Its functions include providing information and advice or making a referral to other services to resolve disputes. It can help gig workers to:
- understand rights, protections and entitlements under workplace and related laws
- make informed decisions about working for a platform
- resolve work disputes, by putting gig workers in touch with Government agencies and other services.
The GWSS website has information for gig workers on
- Work status
- Contracts between gig workers and platforms
- Safety and injuries
- Conditions and pay
- Unfair treatment and job loss
- The Voluntary Fair Conduct and Accountability Standards (the Standards)
If you have any questions about the GWSS, please submit an online enquiry form or call 1800 000 478.
The Voluntary Fair Conduct and Accountability Standards
The GWSS also promotes and administers the Voluntary Fair Conduct and Accountability Standards (the Standards) to improve gig work conditions. The Standards are designed to promote fairness and transparency between on-demand platforms and non-employee gig workers in Victoria.
There are six standards focusing on:
- consultation about work status and arrangements
- consideration of parties’ leverage or bargaining power
- fair conditions and pay, including gender pay equity
- fair and transparent independent dispute resolution
- worker representation, including the ability to seek better work arrangements
- safety.
Platforms engaging non-employee gig workers in Victoria are expected to take up and implement these Standards.