Thursday 30 June 2022 03:06 AM Why the cost of getting Deliveroo or Uber Eats is about to increase in Australia trends now

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The cost of taking an Uber or getting a Deliveroo meal is set to increase due to an Albanese government plan to improve gig workers' pay and conditions.

Labor wants self-employed rideshare drivers - as well as other platform-based workers such as delivery drivers, security guards and even carers - to be awarded a minimum wage and sick leave, which they are currently not entitled to.

Workplace relations minister Tony Burke - who wants to introduce the new laws this year - admitted the move would push up prices as companies such as Uber pass on the costs to consumers.

'I think that you'll get you'll get some small increases in prices in different places,' he told ABC radio on Thursday. 

'You know, it may mean that there's a marginal increase in getting a pizza delivered to your home or something like that.'

But Mr Burke said any price increases were worth it to make sure workers were being treated well. 

'As a nation we've worked on the basis that you shouldn't need tips before you can make ends meet. 

'We've always worked on the basis that there should be minimum wages. We have a section of the economy at the moment where there's effectively no minimum and that can't go on,' he said.

Labor's laws would give the independent wage-setting umpire - the Fair Work Commission - the power to set wages for gig economy workers.

Mr Burke said 'genuine' small business owners do not need a minimum wage but workers doing 'employee-like' jobs such as taxi driving do.

Uber has revealed figures that show across Australia its drivers earned an average of $38 an hour before costs in the six weeks to May 30.

However, because they are not technically employed, they can legally earn below the minimum wage of $20.33 per hour.