Gig economy companies will be put on notice by the Federal Trade Commission.
The Democratic FTC Commissioners approved a new policy statement stating that the agency would use the full portfolio of laws it enforces to prevent unfair, deceptive, anticompetitive and otherwise unlawful practices affecting gig workers.
The FTC said it would go after companies that wrongly use artificial intelligence to evaluate workers productivity. Evidence of wage- fixing between companies will be investigated by the agency.
The FTC's director of consumer protection said in a statement on Thursday that gig workers are entitled to protection under the laws the agency enforces. The FTC is committed to coordinating its consumer protection and competition enforcement efforts within the agency as well as working with other agencies to ensure gig workers are treated fairly.
Gig workers are protected under the laws we enforce.
The National Labor Relations Board and the FTC announced in July that they would work together to protect gig workers from unfair and deceptive practices from ride-sharing and food delivery companies.
The Gig Workers Collective formed over the last two years to advocate for delivery drivers. The groups haven't been able to make significant industry changes without legal protections.
A California law that makes it harder for gig companies to classify their workers as independent contractors is one of the most prominent of the gig economy regulations. Other states introduced their own measures after the bill was passed.
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said last year that gig workers should be classified as employees. Workers who don't qualify for payroll protections like official employees are employed by the two companies. Federal regulators could file lawsuits against gig companies if they found evidence of wage violations.
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