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The Fair Work Commission has made its first Minimum Standards Order, covering 'employee-like workers'.

While primarily applying to only a small number of businesses, the order and accompanying decision demonstrate the scope of matters the Commission can make orders about, under the 'regulated worker' provisions that were introduced as part of the Closing Loopholes amendments.

These gave the Commission new powers to make minimum standards guidelines and orders, and to establish a way for workers to challenge their platform deactivation or termination).

The Transport Workers Union filed applications for minimum standards orders just days after the provisions commenced on 26 August 2024, arguing that platforms engaging gig workers should provide them with minimum cost recovery rates that account for labour, annual leave, and running costs for their vehicles, and a 'minimum safety net' that accounts for time they spend on the platform before work is offered...