Australia has ‘Third World working conditions in a First World country’

Right now, the reality is some Australians have Third World working conditions in a First World country, an occurrence which cannot be allowed according to Labor frontbencher Tony Burke.

Discussing the gig economy in particular, Mr Burke said “we cannot have a situation in Australia where some people are working below the minimum wage.”

“We can’t have a situation in Australia where we set a legal minimum and then for a whole lot of people in the gig economy we say ‘oh but you don’t count’.”

He said the reason platforms say people in the gig economy “don’t count” is because they claim they’re not employees, but rather “independent contractors”.

“I just don’t accept for a minute that the visa worker with a second-hand bike, racing and running traffic lights trying to make ends meet has that sort of strength, that sort of independence,” Mr Burke told Sky News.

“The end point is, right now, we have Third World working conditions in a First World country.”