Gig Workers

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Engagement summary
Discussion papers
Invitation for app-based workers to join a discussion
Phase 1 Results

Overview

Who: The Ministry of Labour and gig workers

What: Assessing appropriate employment standards and other protections for certain gig workers

Where: Province-wide

Why: To ensure equity for all workers

How: Online, in-person

Category: Economy and Jobs, Multi-language

Engagement summary

In recent years we’ve seen a significant growth of the gig economy along with dramatic changes to B.C.’s workforce. Gig work is often associated with paid work outside of traditional employment – a full-time, permanent job with one employer – and includes app-based ride-hail and food-delivery work.

We recognize that people in B.C. have embraced ride-hail and food-delivery services. Customers enjoy the convenience, while workers value the flexibility this type of work offers, such as being able to log on and off an app to work when they want. However, most people involved in the sector agree there is room to improve working conditions.

In Fall 2022, the Ministry of Labour (the Ministry) initiated an engagement process to identify the benefits and challenges of app-based ride-hail and food-delivery work. This priority initiative is a key component of government’s broader approach to make the economy work better for people living in B.C. Feedback gathered through initial engagement has been summarized in a what we heard report (below).

Discussion papers

Based on what the Ministry heard during initial engagement, the Ministry has developed a discussion paper, Proposing Employment Standards and Other Protections for App-Based Ride-Hail and Food-Delivery Workers in British Columbia (PDF, 1MB). Released August 3, 2023, this discussion paper forms the basis of a new round of engagement considering potential standards and protections for these workers.

The discussion paper outlines the priority concerns heard during the initial engagement and provides the context for considering appropriate employment standards and other protections for the sector. It also sets out several discussion questions for comment regarding the following priority issues:

Fair compensation standards
Pay and destination transparency
Account suspensions, deactivations and terminations
Workers’ compensation and occupational health and safety coverage

The Ministry is seeking proposals, feedback and perspectives on the discussion questions and priority issues posed in the Proposing Employment Standards and Other Protections for App-Based Ride-Hail and Food-Delivery Workers in British Columbia discussion paper. There are two different versions:

If you represent a platform company, business association, labour organization, non-profit group, academic or researcher, please read this discussion paper (PDF, 1MB) as a reference for your feedback.

If you are an app-based ride-hail or food-delivery worker, please read the discussion paper as a reference for your feedback.

Discussion Paper (PDF, 1MB):

Anyone with relevant comments is also welcome to submit feedback on these papers.

Please email your comments to: precariousworkstrategy@gov.bc.ca by September 30, 2023

Invitation for app-based workers to join a discussion

This month (September 2023), the Parliamentary Secretary for Labour, Janet Routledge, hosted small group discussions with workers from across B.C., in ride-hail (using apps like Uber and Lyft) and who do app-based delivery work (using apps like SkipTheDishes, DoorDash and Instacart) to hear their thoughts on potential rules that would protect workers in these industries. It’s not too late to have your say!

We would like to hear from you! The deadline is September 30, 2023.

The questions for you to consider are in the discussion paper for workers (also available in French, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese 简体中文, Traditional Chinese 繁體中文 and Tagalog).

To share your thoughts, questions or comments on the discussion paper in writing, please email us: precariousworkstrategy@gov.bc.ca in your language.

Anything you share is confidential and will be carefully considered as government designs appropriate employment standards and other protections for app-based ride-hail and food-delivery workers.

Thank you so much for considering sharing your important perspective with us. We appreciate your willingness, time, and ideas.

Phase 1 Results

In Fall 2022, the Ministry of Labour’s Parliamentary Secretary held in-person roundtable discussions with app-based ride-hail and food-delivery workers throughout B.C. In addition, the Ministry engaged with platform companies, business associations, labour organizations, non-profit groups, academics and researchers. A public survey was available online.

22 virtual meetings were held with platform companies, business associations, labour organizations, non-profit groups, academics and researchers.
A survey was available online from November 23, 2022, to January 6, 2023.
Of the 1,470 completed surveys, 1,106 people who responded were current or former app-based ride-hail and food-delivery workers, and 364 people were members of the general public.

Contributors expressed a wide range of perspectives on the issues and clear themes emerged. The App-based Ride-Hail and Food-Delivery Work in British Columbia: What We Heard Report is a summary of that engagement: