But Uber, one of the gig economy's biggest players, has told the inquiry that it provided opportunities for flexible work for tens of thousands of Victorians, some of whom might struggle in the traditional job market. Victoria launched its inquiry into the on-demand workforce in December 2018, recruiting former Fair Work ombudsman Natalie James to lead the effort. The state says the inquiry will not be wrapped up until the end of 2019. Natalie James is chairing the inquiry into Victoria's on-demand workforce. She spoke to reporters with the Minister for Industrial Affairs, Tim Pallas, in Melbourne on Tuesday. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui The state's powers are limited in the sector, with industrial relations falling into the federal jurisdiction, but Mr Pallas said it was still possible for the state to intervene to better protect riders and drivers. He said if the workers were not defined as employees "then the state does have options available to it in order to look at what greater protections can be put in place".

The Treasurer said he did not want to pre-judge the ultimate outcome of the inquiry. "But the insecurity, the lack of accountability and the high levels of vulnerability of these workers basically do say that there is more that the state can do in this space," he said. Loading Mr Pallas said the inquiry would recognise the value of the gig economy, and the convenience it offered consumers, but needed to ensure adequate protection was in place for the workers. "As a government we do need to be alert to the changing nature of work," he said.

"We need to make sure that the workforce and the community are well protected." Ms James said many submissions supported the services because they allowed workers to "access the labour market" where they might otherwise have struggled to get traditional jobs. Loading But submissions also showed many of the workers were vulnerable, she said. "One worker who made a submission to the inquiry talked about wanting to raise some issues with their platform and said it was like dealing with a ghost."

She said another worker was cut off from their employment after receiving a customer complaint they felt was not legitimate. Former delivery rider Josh Klooger with the chair of the inquiry into Victoria's on-demand workforce, Natalie James on Tuesday. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui Josh Klooger, 29, started riding for Foodora in February 2016 and finished there two years later. Initially he was paid about $25 an hour, he said. "But as other companies came and the market grew, the newer drivers were getting paid less and less until it got to a point where I just had to speak up about it," he said. Mr Klooger said Foodora ceased his working arrangement after he spoke out. He took legal action against the company, which will have to pay six months in lost wages.

Foodora, which no longer operates in Australia, owes Mr Klooger $29,000. He said delivery riders should be made employees and that workers were often injured on the job but received no support. In its submission to the inquiry, Uber said more than 30,000 people in Victoria were using the platform to earn money as drivers or riders. "Some use Uber to earn on the side, or save up for a holiday, while others are logging on more regularly to support their families," the company’s submission said. "Uber can also be a powerful tool to support people in transition between jobs or an earning option for people who have traditionally struggled to find work."