New minimum standards introduced for gig delivery workers in Australia

At a glance

• The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has introduced the first set of minimum standards for gig economy delivery workers engaged through digital labour platforms, such as websites and apps.
• The standards apply to workers who provide on demand delivery services, including the delivery of food, groceries, and similar items and commenced on 17 August 2026.
• Importantly, the standards set minimum rates of pay between AUD31.30 and AUD32.00 per hour depending on the type of vehicle used by a worker.
• If a worker's earnings for an earnings period (up to 21 days) fall below the applicable minimum rates of pay during the earnings period, the platform operator is required to make a top-up payment.
• The rates will increase by AUD0.50 per hour from 1 January 2027 and will be adjusted annually in line with the percentage increase determined by the FWC's minimum wage review.
• The standards also impose a range of additional obligations on platform operators, including record-keeping requirements, consultation obligations, dispute resolution procedures, insurance requirements, workplace delegate rights, and obligations to provide a 'gig worker information statement' to workers.