Securing minimum standards and pay in the platform economy - 2026

How can unions secure regulation and standards for workers in the gig economy? In this webinar, Jack Boutros shares his insights and experiences from seven years of campaigning for gig workers in Australia. In 2024, the TWU secured new legislation which allows the union to establish binding and enforceable standards for gig economy workers. The Australian union is now using this to negotiate the first standards for gig workers which include minimum rates of pay, insurance, transparency and a range of other rights and entitlements which help lift standards and provide workers a voice in the gig economy. He discusses the TWU's experience in campaigning for gig workers, the Australian legislative breakthrough and how it is being applied through current negotiations with platforms in Australia. Then, Alex Veen, an employment relations scholar and expert on new technology and work, joins the discussion to reflect on the wider impact of these agreements in the context of the gig economy.