App-based Gig Workers
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Overview
Who: The Ministry of Labour and app-based ride-hail and food-delivery 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
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 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 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.
- In summer/fall 2023 the Ministry posted discussion papers that outlined the priority concerns identified during the initial engagement.
Engagement results
In fall 2022, the Ministry of Labour held in-person roundtable discussions with app-based ride-hail and food-delivery workers throughout B.C. The ministry also 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:
- English: What We Heard Report
- Traditional Chinese: What We Heard: 我們所聽到的
- Simplified Chinese: What We Heard: 我们所听到的
- Punjabi: What We Heard: ਜੋ ਅਸ ੀਂ ਸੁਣਿਆ ਹੈਣਰਰਣਿਸ਼
- Tagalog: What We Heard: Mga Nalaman Namin
- French: What We Heard: Compte rendu des consultations
November 16, 2023 news release: Fairness coming for gig workers
November 20, 2023 news release: Legislative changes will bring fairness to app-based gig workers
Discussion papers
Based on what the ministry heard during initial engagement, the ministry 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 was the basis of the most recent round of engagement considering potential standards and protections for these workers.
The discussion paper outlines the priority concerns heard during the initial engagement and provided the context for considering appropriate employment standards and other protections for the sector. It also set out discussion questions 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 asked for 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. Anyone with relevant comments was welcome to submit feedback on these paper by September 30, 2023. There are two different versions:
- Platform companies, business associations, labour organizations, non-profit groups, academics or researchers used this discussion paper (PDF, 1MB) as a reference.
- App-based ride-hail or food-delivery workers used this discussion paper as a reference:
This phase of engagement is now closed.
Thank you to all who shared their perspectives with us. We appreciate your willingness, time and ideas.
Proposed solutions
The Province is proposing solutions to ensure appropriate employment standards and other protects are in place for app-based gig workers. These solutions are supported by the significant engagement the ministry held with app-based ride-hail and food-delivery workers, platform companies, labour organizers and other parties.
On November 20, 2023, government introduced proposed amendments to the Employment Standards Act and Workers Compensation Act to implement these solutions. The amendments will allow the development of regulations, which will establish basic employment standards and workers compensation for these workers.
Engagement with platform companies, app-based ride-hail and food-delivery workers, and other parties will continue through the regulation development process.
Changes will come into effect after the legislation is passed and the new regulations are finalized. More information on the proposed amendments can be found in the November 16 and November 20 news releases.
Related engagements
