Australian delivery workers set to gain minimum pay in landmark deal

Australian food delivery workers are on course to gain minimum pay levels after Uber Eats and DoorDash struck a deal with the country's transport union that is being hailed as a world first.



Under a draft agreement released on Tuesday, their workers would earn at least A$31.30 ($20.19) per hour. That represents an increase of about 25% for some couriers who are paid per delivery and not how long they have worked.



The deal would put them on par with the minimum wage earned by Australian casual workers.



If approved by the Fair Work Commission, the agreement will go into effect next July.



"For too long gig workers fell through the cracks," Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said in a statement.



"We didn't think it was fair that these workers missed out on minimum standards, and had to rely on tips to survive. That's not the Australian way."



The agreement comes after Australia's centre-left government passed a law last year that defined gig workers as "employee-like" workers and gave them the right to negotiate minimum pay and conditions.