The tension between traditional employment law frameworks and
the gig economy has come to the fore once again after the Fair Work Commission holds that
an Uber driver is not an
employee.
Traditional employment v the 'gig' economy
The 'gig' economy refers to the increasing use of
short-term contracts and ad hoc engagements as a form of organising
work - including digital platforms such as Uber, Deliveroo, Airtasker and Airbnb.
These digital platforms allow individuals to draw on otherwise
unused assets, skills or services and provide them directly to
others, organised through apps and other digital tools.
The short-term, flexible and ad hoc nature of gig economy work
appeals to, or provides opportunities for, many people. However,
these informal arrangements don't sit easily with traditional
ideas of employment, which are based on providing certainty and
minimum protections, even for casual employees. The gig economy is
a new and large field in which the
