There’s ‘Potential’ for Progress in Gig Worker Supports After an Involved Election Season, Experts, Politicians Say
This excerpt from the Hill Times explores the efforts of legislators, including Senator Omidvar, to improve supports for Canadian gig workers.
Gig workers are on the rise in Canada, and with a new minority Parliament in place, politicians and workers’ advocates see an opportunity for the Liberal government to collaborate with the NDP to push forward progress on supporting this sector.
At its foundation, gig work is a descriptor that covers all kinds of work done outside of the conventional long-term-employer and employee relationship, rising into prominence most recently because of platforms like Uber, but also encompassing more traditional client-to-client freelancing.
And there’s been a general increase in workers in the field, with gig workers today representing an estimated 13 per cent of Canadian adults. But such work has its downsides, including employment insecurity, unstable salaries, and a lack of job protections.
This trend hasn’t gone unnoticed by government. In March, a backgrounder from Employment and Social Development Canada on the topic confirmed consultations on gig work would be underway in the coming months.
Asked about the department’s plans, a spokesperson said they’ll be “bringing forward changes” in the coming weeks for these sorts of workers, though they didn’t specify what those changes would be.
Similarly, Ashley Michnowski, a spokesperson for Employment, Workforce Development, and Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough (Delta, B.C.), said in an emailed statement that the EI consultations launched this past August “will help establish a blueprint for an ambitious tripartite effort from government, employers, and workers” to create a system that “better responds to the changing nature of work.”
The Senate has its eyes on this issue, too, with Ontario ISG Senator Frances Lankin pushing for the Senate Social Affairs, Science, and Technology Committee to begin a review of the future of work.
Gig workers also haven’t been inactive on this front. Last year, couriers for food-delivery service Foodora in Ontario successfully brought the battle up to the province’s labour relations board, which ruled that their couriers are dependent contractors, and thus are more like employees, and, critically, are allowed to unionize.
The question still remains, though, whether federal change will come in this area, especially after an election which saw the three major parties all address gig work in their platforms.
Ontario ISG Senator Ratna Omidvar, at least, is “optimistic.” She’s not alone, with fellow Ontario ISG Senator Donna Dasko similarly noting that she sees potential for progress.