New research reveals the growth of ‘gig’ employment in the NDIS and care sector is undermining minimum employment conditions for tens of thousands of workers, with thousands of workers likely earning below-award wages, missing out on superannuation and experiencing inferior WHS protections and gender pay equality outcomes.
Key findings:
- The gig work model is growing in the care economy and NDIS, undermining wages, conditions and gender pay equality
- Care workers on platforms are younger, less experienced and more likely to be migrant workers than workers in the broader care and support workforce
- Platform care work is insecure on-demand work; many workers’ earnings are equivalent to below award-level pay
- Platforms compete by avoiding the costs and risks of employing workers and of accountability for care and support quality and safety
“Unregulated gig work is a cancer for workers rights in Australia,” said Dr Fiona Macdonald, Policy Director at the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work.