B.C. proposes changes to protect ride-hailing, food delivery workers

The province says it is looking into adding new protections for app-based ride-hail and food-delivery workers in B.C.

It says, while these gig workers do have a bit of a flexible free-flowing work model, wages are low and unpredictable and there are no benefits like worker compensation for those who get injured on the job.

These proposed protections would establish a minimum earning standard at 120 per cent of the current B.C. minimum wage, which is currently $16.75 an hour.

The new legislation would also include workers’ compensation, with companies required to register with WorkSafe BC and pay premiums.

“The workers who appear at the touch of a button to drive us home or deliver our dinner deserve to be treated fairly,” B.C.’s Minister of Labour, Harry Bains.

“That’s why we’re taking action to address the problems that the workers themselves raised. We know how important these services are to people in B.C. and our goal is to balance the needs of workers while supporting the continuation of these services.”

Inder Raj Gill, a ride-hailing driver in Vancouver, says these plans mark an important first step.

“We can look forward to receiving a fair resolution process, pay that reflects our hard work, and basic rights and benefits, just like any contributing member of society.”

Uber driver Joy Nahirnick tells CityNews she’s been driving with her dog “honeytoes” since the ride-sharing app launched in B.C. She says she welcomes the legislation because it won’t affect her ability to work her own hours.

“They’re not changing our flexibility; they’re adding benefits and there’s people doing this job that could use that,” she said.

Some of the proposed protections also include better transparency in pay and destination — letting drivers know what they’re going to be paid for a ride or delivery and where they’re going on each trip.

“Currently, customers do not know how much of their fare goes to the drivers, and drivers do not know how much the customer has paid for that trip. The platform companies will clarify to the workers how much they will earn on each assignment, and they will also provide workers with a wage statement for each pay period,” Bains explained.

“The only time that’d be important to me is if I only want to work till a certain time, that trips too far, so it’s not going to work for me. But it’d probably be nice to know where you’re going before you go there,” Nahirnick added.

The province notes that it is still in the planning stage for all of these changes, and legislation would have to be introduced and passed first.

If the legislation is passed, it would also mean better job security, a formal notice in writing of any suspension or deactivation of an account, and a review process. Tip protection and compensation for using personal vehicles are a focus as well. Finally, workers under the Employment Standards Act would also be defined as employees.

As of right now, these standards wouldn’t cover things like overtime, stat holidays, or paid leave.

These changes would be expected to take effect in early 2024.

With files from Srushti Gangdev