Australia creates unprecedented protection for app couriers

App drivers and delivery people in Australia will have fairer working conditions Rafael Ben Ari/Avalon/IMAGO Food and shopping delivery people in Australia will receive at least 31.30 Australian dollars (about 115 reais) per hour and will have insurance against accidents during work, according to new rules approved by the country's labor relations court. The hourly wage, set out in a decision issued by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) this Tuesday (12/08), is above the Australian minimum wage of $26.44. The FWC's decision, which could serve as a precedent for other countries, was celebrated by the Transport Workers Union (TWU) as "a historic moment for the app economy in Australia". The union called the new rules "a world-first set of standards." 'I'm my own boss, but I never know how much I'm going to earn': a portrait of someone who makes a living from app deliveries What rights and protections will app delivery people have? The minimum hourly wage will be paid for "active" time, i.e. the period between acceptance of a delivery and completion of the service. The decision, which comes into force on August 17, also requires companies to offer a "reasonable minimum level of coverage" for insurance against personal accidents during work, without specifying exactly what the amount of this coverage should be. Workers, however, will remain responsible for maintaining insurance against damage to third parties for vehicles used in deliveries. Unions and workers in Australia have long advocated reforms to benefit professionals who work through apps. Until now, they were not covered by many of the protections afforded to other employees, as they were classified as "independent contractors." The new rules are expected to affect around 250,000 workers. READ ALSO: Coffee, bathroom and even video games: the base created by delivery drivers that offers support and rest between runs