Gig economy workers to get $400m wage boost under Labor’s closing loopholes bill

Workplace relations minister Tony Burke has cited support for Labor’s closing loopholes bill from the Australian Road Transport Industrial Organisation, the sector’s peak employer group. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

The Albanese government has introduced its closing loopholes industrial relations bill, estimated to provide labour hire workers up to $511m a year more pay and gig economy workers up to $404m.

Unions welcomed the bill but oppose concessions watering down its promise of same job same pay in the labour hire industry, including the blanket exemption for small businesses.