Australia – Foodora’s gig economy hearing over unfair dismissal kicks off (ZDNet)

Australia’s Fair Work Commission, the country’s national workplace relations tribunal, has kicked off an unfair dismissal hearing about human cloud food delivery firm Foodora’s local operations, reports ZDNet.

During the hearing, a delivery rider, Josh Klooger, provided testimony on allegedly being dismissed after complaining about a lack of workers’ rights. Klooger said that Foodora wages had been halved over the last two years and that riders never received sick leave nor workers’ compensation even after being injured on the job.

Klooger brought his claim to the Fair Work Commission, arguing that he was unfairly dismissed in March after speaking publicly about the Foodora’s riders’ low pay and poor conditions. Earlier this month, the Fair Work Ombudsman accused Foodora over employment practices that resulted in the underpayment of workers as contractors.

A case management hearing is scheduled to take place in the Australian Federal Court on 10 July 10 and deals with three delivery drivers who were contracted by Foodora Australia. The company could face penalties for each violation if it is found to have breached the Fair Work Act.

Source: http://www2.staffingindustry.com/row/Editorial/Daily-News/Australia-Foodora-s-gig-economy-hearing-over-unfair-dismissal-kicks-off-ZDNet-46610