Ontario to bring in $15 minimum wage for gig workers, more legal protections

Doug Ford wants to give platform-based gig workers more legal protections, including a base minimum wage, in the latest announcement in a slew of pro-worker policy proposals recently put forth by the government.

The Digital Platform Workers Rights Act would affect workers at companies such as SkipTheDishes Restaurant Services Inc. gig workers would be given rights if they are on a platform, not employment status.

In the last few years, we have seen huge shifts around traditional labour markets and as we build a resilient economy, our government must keep pace with those changes.

Ford wants to make sure that apps don't take tips and give workers a reason if they are removed. The government wants app companies to resolve work-related disputes in the province. Issues are usually resolved in a company's headquarters city.

The latest proposal is part of a series of announcements made by the Progressive Conservatives. Last week, Ford and Labour Minister Monte McNaughton announced the government will pass new laws to boost labour in the skilled trades by making it easier for out-of-province workers to move to Ontario, as well as mandate that employers inform workers of electronic monitoring policies.

Ford faces an election this summer and some have questioned whether his political stripes are changing colour in a bid to win re-election. He said that recent moves by the government would put more money in people's pockets, such as scrapping tolls on some highways and getting rid of fees for licence plate stickers.

The policies we are delivering are smart, common sense and will help middle class families earn more money and create a better future for them.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Canada, a private union, signed a deal with the ride-sharing company in January that would allow it to represent about 100,000 drivers if they want to. Workers don't pay union dues and the deal doesn't provide complete unionization.

Accident coverage and a benefits fund that scales with time spent on platforms are some of the reforms that the government should introduce, according to the company. It is a change in tune for a company that has resisted unionization in the past.

The government needs to pass enabling legislation before we can provide benefits to drivers and delivery people. It would be seen as making drivers and delivery people as employees, and they would lose their flexibility of schedule and be able to work on multiple platforms.

Email:bbharti@postmedia.com