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, the Parliamentary Secretary for Labour, Janet Routledge, will be hosting small group discussions with workers from across B.C.

These discussions are a chance for people who work in ride-hail (using apps like Uber and Lyft) and people who do app-based delivery work (using apps like SkipTheDishes, DoorDash and Instacart) to have their say on potential rules that would protect workers in these industries.

The questions that will be discussed at these meetings 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).

This will be a safe space for workers to share ideas and provide feedback on potential employment standards and protections. The 90-minute sessions are for workers only, and those who take part do not need to give their full name. Some of the meetings will be in-person, and others will take place online using Microsoft Teams.

Upcoming discussions for app-based ride-hail workers

In-person discussion in Vancouver
Monday, September 18 from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

In-person discussion in Surrey
Wednesday, September 20 from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Virtual discussion for workers outside the Lower Mainland
Thursday, September 21 from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Upcoming discussions for app-based food-delivery workers

In-person discussion in Vancouver
Tuesday, September 19 from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Virtual discussion for workers on Vancouver Island & the Sunshine Coast
Tuesday, September 19 from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Virtual discussion for workers in Kamloops, Kelowna & Prince George
September 20 from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

How to participate:

If you do app-based food-delivery and/or ride-hail work and would like to participate in one of these small group discussions, please email: precariousworkstrategy@gov.bc.ca
In your email, please note which discussion you would like to attend (#1-6), and tell us whether you mostly work as a ride-hail worker or food-delivery worker, approximately how many hours you do this kind of work each week, and where you work in B.C.
If there is space available at an upcoming discussion, you will receive a reply email with a confirmation and the location address or Microsoft Teams link for the discussion you are registered to attend.

If you are not available to able to participate in a discussion, or if you would prefer to share your thoughts on the questions in the discussion paper in writing, please email us. Your written input can be in any language.

Anything you share in writing is confidential and will be carefully considered as government designs appropriate employment standards and other protections for workers.

Thank you so much for considering sharing your important perspective with us. We appreciate your willingness, time and ideas. If you have questions or comments, please email the same address: precariousworkstrategy@gov.bc.ca

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: