Are They Really Independent Contractors?

Paris Marx is joined by Tyler Riordan to discuss the state of the gig economy in Australia, the ongoing efforts to improve their conditions, and Tyler’s research on migrant food couriers in Brisbane.

Tyler Riordan is a PhD candidate in hospitality and anthropology at the University of Queensland. Follow Tyler on Twitter at @tyler_riordan.

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Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

Find out more about Harbinger Media Network at harbingermedianetwork.com.

Also mentioned in this episode:

• The deaths of gig economy workers have become a major focus on governments and the media over the past year
• Australia’s federal government has an ongoing Senate committee on gig work
• Uber settled a case in December 2020 to avoid a ruling on employment status, but another test case has been filed in Federal Court
• Foodora pulled out of Australia in 2018
• Menulog announced it was making some workers employees earlier this year

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