App-Based Gig Workers Get General Minimum Wage Established By Ontario Government

The Ontario Government introduced new legislation that will give app-based gig workers a $15 minimum wage and transparency regarding their tips announced on Monday.

According to a survey conducted by Ipsos, 62 per cent of Ontarians agree that the province should guarantee a certain minimum level of income for technology platform or ‘gig’ workers. Screenshot.

The “Digital Platform Workers’ Rights Act” permits app-based employees — such as ride-share drivers and couriers — to a $15 minimum wage and their tips.

Workers will also receive a recurring pay period and payday with their tips prohibited from being withheld by platform operators.

“As part of our plan to build a stronger economy that works for everyone, we want all workers to have every opportunity to earn a good living and provide for their families,” said Doug Ford, Ontario Premier. “It doesn’t matter if you work for a big company, a small business or for a rideshare app. Our government won’t leave any worker behind.”

Ford added that five Canadians work in the gig economy and says data predicts an increase in app-based workers.

The government’s proposals have laid out the following rights and protections for digital platform workers:

• Earning at least the general minimum wage for time worked

• The right to keep their tips along with regular pay periods

• The right to information and clarity around algorithms including

  • how pay is calculated; and

  • how and why a worker might be penalized in the allocation of work

• Written notice if they are being removed from the platform and why

• The right to resolve their work-related disputes in Ontario

• Protection from reprisal should they seek to assert their rights.

“No one working in Ontario should ever make less than minimum wage for an hour's work," said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour Training and Skills Development. “No one working in Ontario should be dismissed without notice, explanation, or recourse. No one should have to travel out of the country to resolve a workplace dispute or sign a contract they do not understand. These core rights are a foundation in our mission to help all workers earn bigger paychecks to take care of their families, not an endpoint.”

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Peterborough Startup Locavorest Offers Home Delivery Service For Local Produce

Locavorest, a delivery service that connects local food producers to consumers, is now launching home delivery services throughout the city of Peterborough.

Over the past year, Locavorest has provided food to more than 100 customers in the region with products from over 25 local producers, including Lunar Rhythms Organic Garden, Electric Juice Factory, Healey Falls Bison Farm, and Chick-a-biddy Acres.

Happy customer with her order from Locavorest

With home delivery, customers can pay a flat rate $7 fee to have a Locavorest employee deliver their order straight to their home.

Delivery is available within the City of Peterborough, with plans to expand throughout Peterborough County in late 2018. Customers can have their order delivered to their home on Fridays between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Locavorest co-founders Megan Boyles, Mark Kirton and Vinay Viswanathan

“By providing a home delivery service, we will be able to better provide consumers an efficient way of gaining local produce, without having to leave their home,” says Megan Boyles, Chief Executive Officer of Locavorest. “This service is also great for those that don’t have vehicles or general access to places like the farms or farmers markets.”

If Locavorest delivers when a customer won’t be home, they can simply leave a cooler and ice packs outside the residence so a Locavorest employee can drop the produce off.

For more info, visit their website here.

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