Innovation or Exploitation

Busting the Airtasker Myth

 Introduction
Contents
2. The gig-economy The increased prevalence of digitally enabled, gig-
based work is actively fragmenting labour standards and
3. Airtasker
disintegrating traditional jobs into short term tasks with
5. Employee or individual no employment safety nets. There has been a great deal
contractor of discussion in the media about the rising trend in online
7. Minimum rates of pay employment to provide real world services, otherwise
9. Safety
referred to as the gig economy.

10. Business or personal use This report is a case study into the employment practices
11. Innovation or reinvention and employment conditions available to workers who use
the online platform known as Airtasker. Established in 2012,
12. Policy proposals
Airtasker hosts a website/app and is the leading provider of
14. Endnotes task based services. Airtasker acquired its key competitors
TaskBox in 20131 and Occasional Butler in 20142. It now has
over 550,000 users and generates $3.5 million in paid tasks
per month3. According to Airtasker, on average it added
around 10,000 members a month in 2014 which increased to
25,000 new members per month in 2016.4

This report reveals Airtasker has used a cloak of innovation

and progress to reintroduce archaic and outdated labour
practices, circumventing minimum wage rates and
removing employee safety nets. By classifying its workers
as independent contractors, Airtasker absolves itself of
providing access to standard employment entitlements and
conditions including sick leave, minimum wages, annual leave
and access to workers compensation.

Unions NSW understands technology has unlocked new,

innovative and efficient ways of working and doing business.
However, in embracing this, governments, workers, unions
and business must be able to work together to ensure
legislative frameworks adapt to promote equity and balance.
Unions NSW seeks dialogue with Airtasker and other gig-
economy businesses to find common ground in promoting
fairness.

1
The Rise of the gig-economy
The term gig-economy arose in 2009 at the height of the global financial crisis
as many workers lost permanent, full time employment and turned to sporadic,
casual and freelance work or gigs. 5 Since then, the term has evolved to
encapsulate the nature of digitally enabled marketplaces where companies use
websites and apps to pair workers with tasks or jobs that occur both online and
offline.6

Essentially, the gig-economy is unpinned by four key features:

1. Work is fragmented into specific individual tasks and workers are
engaged on a task by task basis with no guarantees of continuous work.

2. Work is performed by one individual worker, but may be commissioned

by an individual or a business.

3. Labour transactions between workers and individuals/businesses are

facilitated by a for-profit company who charge users for this service
(eg, Airtasker). These transactions are performed through web based
applications which are managed and controlled by the for-profit
company.

4. Workers are classified by the facilitating companies as independent

contractors and are not afforded any employment protections or
minimum standards in the performance of their work.

The size of the gig-economy is increasing rapidly and attracts millions of users
every day. Research conducted on behalf of the NSW Government estimated the
sharing economy has contributed $504 million to the States economy annually,
and provided 45,000 people with some form of work. 7

The gig-economy spans a broad cross-section of industries, with major players

including Uber8 (taxi and courier services), Airbnb9 (accommodation services),
Whizz10 (home cleaning services) and Airtasker.11

2
 Airtasker
Airtasker was established in 2012 and workers as independent contractors
defines itself as a trusted community who are engaged directly by the job-
marketplace for people and businesses poster, absolving Airtasker of ongoing
to outsource tasks, find local services responsibility to workers, including
or hire flexible staff in minutes - online obligations in regards to minimum
or via mobile. 12 The centerpiece of employment standards and workplace
the business model is a website/app health and safety requirements.14
(airtasker.com.au).
Once the work is assigned, the agreed
To use Airtasker both the job-poster amount is deposited to a holding
and the worker must set up an account account managed by Airtasker.
on the companys website. The job- Airtasker holds the payment until the
poster can create a task by specifying job-poster declares the job completed
details and assigning a rate of pay for and then 85.0 percent of the money is
the task. Payments are set only for the released to the worker and 15.0 percent
completion of a task, not on an hourly is collected by Airtasker. Airtasker does
or daily rate. The rate advertised by the not charge any fees to the job-poster.
job-poster includes both the payment to
be provided to the worker and the There are few limitations on what job-
15.0 percent fee to be paid to Airtasker. posters can request on Airtasker, with
restrictions primarily on illegal activities,
A worker who is interested in an escort services and tasks regarding
advertised job may pitch for the job as completion of school or university
advertised or they could compete for assignments. The most common tasks
the job by bidding down the rate of pay are cleaning, delivery and IT services
on offer. Bids are blind, meaning only but also extend to household handy
the job-poster can see what workers work, building, gardening, costume
are bidding, leading to a competitive making and marketing (see figure one).15
environment where workers may seek
to undercut the advertised rate to gain
a competitive advantage. Job-posters
can also select workers based on their
Airtasker rating, which they receive for
work they have performed from other
job-posters through the platform.

The Airtasker User Agreement describes

the selection of a worker by a job-poster
as winning and it is this winning which
Airtasker believes forms a separate
task contract which does not include
Airtasker. 13 Airtasker categorises

3
 Home & Garden
Delivery & Removals
Tradesmen
Market Research
Figure one : Marketing & Design
Airtasker tasks by
Business & Admin
category
Events & Photography
Computer & IT
Fun & Quirky
Other

In addition to the Airtasker User sharing economy models are disruptive

Agreement, Airtasker also stipulates emerging, innovative industries and
Marketplace Rules to regulate the platforms. By disruptive, it is meant
behaviour of job-posters and workers that they are likely to force some more
using the service. 16 Rules seek to control inefficient, incumbent industries out of
interactions through Airtasker, for business. 19
example:
Despite claims of innovation, the
Pricing for offers placed must be Airtasker business model operates much
final and when an offer is accepted a like a real world labour
Job Poster is not obliged to pay any hire agency. For a fee, it connects
additional fees within the Airtasker businesses or individuals that require a
marketplace. 17 job to be completed
with workers to complete the required
Violation of the rules or agreement job.
could result in suspension from the
website:

Members who breach the marketplace

rules may have their account
moderated, suspended or deactivated.18

Airtasker has been credited as an

innovator and economic disrupter. As
posited by the Institute of Public Affairs
(IPA):

4
 Employee or
independent contractor
The corner stone of the Airtasker Figure 2. From Airtasker Support:

business model is to use a legal loop When things go wrong 21
hole which allows Airtasker to engage
workers as independent contractors and
not employees. Genuine independent
contractors are governed by commercial Please keep in mind that the Airtasker Worker
rather than employment law, thus selected by the Job Poster is an independent
bypassing requirements for minimum contractor engaged under a Task Contract
payments and employment safety
directly with the Job Poster via the platform.
nets. 20

Current employment legislation

recognises the phenomenon of
employers disguising employees as
independent contractors, also known
as sham contracting. The Fair Work
Act provides for a contravention for

Airtasker Workers are not employees of
Airtasker, therefore Airtasker does not
control how they undergo their work nor the
quality that is delivered by them. However
the Airtasker Customer Support Team is here
to assist you where they can in resolving a
misrepresenting employment as an disagreement with the other Member.
independent contracting arrangement. 22

The key differential between a

genuine independent contractor and
budget proposed by job-posters
an employee is the level of control
meaning the fee is charged to the
the worker has over the performance
worker.
of their work, and their reliance on
another company or individual for the 2. Regulates the behaviour of workers.
commissioning of that work. 23 This was Airtasker regulates the public image
highlighted in the decision of Hollis v and brand of their business. This
Vabu Pty Ltd which looked at the totality extends to controlling the public
of the relationship between the worker interaction of workers on the
and employer to determine employee or website. Workers can be blocked for
independent contractor status. 24 publicly expressing views with which
Airtasker disagrees.
The work performed by Airtasker
workers is arguably different to 3. Facilitates a platform where workers
a genuine independent contract are dependent on Airtasker to find
arrangement because Airtasker takes an tasks. The ability of workers to find
active role in regulating and controlling work outside of the platform is
the relationship between the job-poster limited. Workers gain work off the
and worker. Airtasker: back of the brand and marketing of
Airtasker, as well as the ratings they
1. Charges a work fee. Airtasker takes have accrued within the platform.
15.0 percent of the workers earnings This curtails the ability of workers
on all jobs. This fee is built into the to build their own client base or
flexibly move their work outside the
Airtasker platform.

5
4. Maintains the right to remove by Airtasker, these workers are
Workers and thus restrict their provided with preferential treatment
ability to work. Airtasker maintains for tasks.
the right to block workers from
Airtasker at its sole discretion. Whether the threshold for employment
Airtasker is the leader in the market is met or not, there is arguably a clear
for on-demand services, making it difference between an independent
very difficult for blocked workers contractor and the workers who are
to continue working in the way distributed by Airtasker. These workers
they had previously. Depending on are dependent on Airtasker for the
the nature of their work, blocked delegation of jobs. But as a result of
workers are effectively blacklisted Airtaskers use of the independent
and restricted from task based work. contractor classification its workers
are not entitled to minimum wages,
5. Provides (limited) insurance workers compensation, superannuation,
protection. While Airtasker does protection against unfair dismissal, the
not cover workers compensation right to collectively organise or access
insurance, it does provide coverage to the Fair Work Commission, among
for third party damages. other workplace protections.

6. Regulates the service contract by

providing mediation and arbitration.
Figure 3. From Airtasker Support:
Airtasker offer a mediation and
When things go wrong 25
arbitration service to workers and
job-posters who are unhappy with
any aspect of their relationship.
Examples provided by Airtasker on Example 3: Sophie assigned a task to Mike for
its website, indicate a clear bias handyman work but had to cancel the task due to
towards the job-poster (see figure a personal emergency. Unfortunately Mike was
three).
not notified in time and was already waiting at
7. Controls who performs the work. the property where the work was to be completed.
Airtasker restricts workers from Mike requested partial payment to cover the time
further outsourcing a task or having and petrol spent in travelling to the task. Sophie
it partially performed by another
declined as this was not agreed in advance.
contractor, limiting the ability of
workers to fully control the nature
and performance of their work.

8. Interviews and screens workers.

A new subset of workers called
Airtasker Pro requires workers to
be interviewed and screened and if

Mediation assistance was requested by both
parties by emailing [email protected]. After
reviewing the matter and determining that there
was no documented prior agreement between the
two parties on the Airtasker platform regarding
these type of costs. It was recommended that no
they meet the standards specified payment should be made.

6
 Minimum rates of pay
Airtasker provides job-posters with full for the job-poster to make additional
control over the rate of pay they set for payments to the worker if the task takes
tasks. There is an option for job-posters longer than expected.
to include how long they expect the task
to take, however this is not mandatory. As part of Airtaskers marketplace rules,
On its website Airtasker provides no workers are restricted from advertising
information on minimum rates of pay, the hourly rate for which they are willing
relevant awards or their terms and to work and must instead bid on the
conditions. The rate that is advertised entire task. If its not possible to finish a
by job-posters is not what is paid to task in the time allocated by the job-
workers as it includes the 15.0 percent poster, the worker can negotiate for
fee taken by Airtasker which further additional payment to complete the
reduces the amount paid for completion task. However, this is only by agreement
of a task especially in arrangements and if it is not agreed to and the task is
where jobs advertised on Airtasker start not completed in the advertised time,
as low at $10 per task (see figure four). the job-poster may refuse to pay the
For jobs that do indicate a time frame worker at all.
for work, the time is considered only a
suggestion and there is no obligation Workers are also actively encouraged
to compete for work and underbid the
rates that are advertised. 26 There is no
safety net baseline for work on Airtasker
jobs, allowing the minimum industry
standards to be completely eroded.
Figure 4:
Screen shot of tasks listed on Airtasker In 2014 Airtasker released an
information sheet for Job Posters
specifying recommended rates of pay
for their most popular jobs. 27 A selection
of suggested rates are outlined in Table
one, which also includes the advertised
amount which would be received by the
workers (85.0 percent of the advertised
rate) and the relevant Award wage.

The recommendations made by

Airtasker are indicative of rates offered
on the website and fall well below
minimum standards.

Payments made through Airtasker do

not include monetary entitlements
or loadings associated with either
permanent or casual work such as

7
leave, casual loadings, superannuation or workers compensation insurance. Taking
into account these additional costs to workers, rates of pay proposed by Airtasker
represent a significant underpayment of workers when compared to minimum award
rates of pay.

Table one:

Rate recommended by Airtasker

Minimum Award
Job
Paid by poster Received by worker Rate (per hour)
(per hour) (per hour)

Data entry $17.00 $14.45 $23.5328

Cleaner $20.00 $17.00 $23.6429

Sales $25.00 $21.25 $24.3030

Minimum wage legislation exists to
provide all workers the opportunity to
Figure 5: Marketplace Rule #13
earn a wage that allows for a decent
standard of living regardless of the
nature of their employment. 31 In its
Terms of Use and Marketplace Rules,
Airtasker clearly states it will remove
the advertising of unlawful tasks or
work.

Anything related to weapons
or unlawful activity. This
includes soliciting, inducing
or encouraging illegal acts or
requesting goods or services in
furtherance of a crime

Yet rates of pay which undercut industry

award standards remain on the Airtasker
site.

8
 Safety
Airtasker claims its workers are covered
by a $20 million insurance policy32.
This policy does not provide workers
compensation insurance but only covers
third party damage caused to the job-
poster. There is no protection to the
worker for personal injury or damage
to any of their property either from
Airtasker or the job-poster.

The lack of workers compensation

insurance provided by Airtasker
transfers risk to workers and job-
posters. Arguably, if a worker is injured,
the job-poster may be held liable for
injuries occurring in their home and
could find they have no insurance
coverage for the costs they could
incur. Home and contents insurance
generally provides coverage for third
party injuries or damage occurring on coverage is void if the injured individual is
someones property. However, in many performing paid work at the property.
insurance policies, this legal liability While there are variations between
insurance policies and within various
jurisdictions, there is no uniform
approach to third party injury insurance
coverage for job-posters, which
arguably creates uncertainty about the
claim by Airtasker their workers are
fully insured.

No verification or proof of licenses

are required by workers who perform
trades skills, including electrical,
plumbing and building work. These
tasks are also not covered by the
Airtasker insurance policy. This raises
concerns as to what, if any, warranty
is provided by Airtasker to ensure
qualified workers are matched to
appropriate work to mitigate possible
workplace accidents or unlicensed
work being undertaken.

9
Business or personal use
In 2013 Airtasker launched Airtasker
Business for businesses to hire task-
based workers without having to
provide minimum wage payments or
other workplace entitlements. This page
has since been incorporated into the
main Airtasker site and the company
continues to promote Airtasker to
businesses as a platform to hire workers.

In the last year, business made up one

third of the total value of tasks posted
on the platform and this increased by
151 percent between February 2015 and
2016. Airtasker claims 5,318 businesses
are using the site to bypass employment
obligations. 33
Airtasker states it is targeting
Businesses engaging workers through enterprises and encouraging them
Airtasker are not required to pay to manage on-demand work and
minimum wages, provide insurance, temporary recruitment through
pay superannuation or pay payroll tax Airtasker. Is has also been reported
for the workers they hire. Agency fees that Airtasker is in talks with businesses
which would normally be charged to like Ikea and the Good Guys to provide
the company by a labour hire firm are services through its customer base34.
instead charged to the worker through
Airtaskers 15.0 percent fee. There is strong evidence to suggest
Airtasker is acting as a labour hire
agency when it connects individuals
with businesses for the performance of
paid work. As such, Airtasker should be
required to comply with the regulations
and legislation that govern labour hire
firms including the classification of these
workers as employees of Airtasker.

Whilst Airtasker claims to be about

connecting individuals in communities,
its advertising pitch to business
advocates for the connection of firms
to cheap and liquid forms of labour,
bypassing taxation and employment
obligations.

10
 Innovation or reinvention
Airtasker is often described as being

?
at the vanguard of the emerging gig-
economy. The gig-economy has been
lauded for using digital technology to
reinvigorate traditional business models
in sectors as diverse as transport,
accommodation and in Airtaskers case,
labour hire. 35 However, despite being an
online operator, the Airtasker business
model is not new. The companys
website offers a model of employment Companies such as Airtasker
no different to a combination of aggressively argue their business model
unregulated Taylorism within a would not survive if they were required
Dickensian marketplace where workers to treat their workers as employees
compete for bite-sized fragments of and provide them with basic working
labour. standards. Tim Fung, founder of
Airtasker, is quoted as saying Airtasker
Such an archaic model of work, is should not be obliged to comply with
neither innovative nor is it removing legal workplace safety nets, instead
traditional barriers to efficiency. relying solely on the free market, In
Rather, the model seeks to reintroduce these kinds of businesses less regulation
competitive Taylorism in a laissez faire is required because the market regulates
environment disrupting over 150 years itself.38
of agitation by workers and unions
who struggled to eradicate this form of Labour standards should not be treated
labour exploitation and replace it with as overregulation or an unnecessary
civilized employment relationships. 36 The limitation on businesses. They are legal
modern day employment relationship minima and have been designed through
ensures security of ongoing work, safety extensive public debate to ensure a
obligations on employers, minimum balance between the needs of business
wages and unfair dismissal rights. 37 and rights of workers to fair minimum
conditions and a safe workplace39.
Use of the term innovation is not a
sufficient excuse for the reintroduction The flexibility of the gig-economy is
of exploitative work practices. Airtasker often touted as an advantage of task
has merely added a technological based work, where workers can pick and
twist to a nineteenth century mode choose which tasks they want to do and
of employment, using an internet the hours they want to work. However,
connection to target the vulnerable this type of flexibility shouldnt have
and desperate for work. The Airtasker to be intrinsically paired with a wage
model of employment shifts risks discount or reduction of key workplace
onto workers while also increasing the standards and safety nets like workplace
precariousness of employment, while insurance, superannuation and access
Airtasker and the job-poster profit from to the Fair Work Commission to resolve
a cyber platform. disputes to ensure its viability.

11
Policy proposals
Unions NSW does not believe Airtasker Enforce minimum rates.
workers meet the definition of an
independent contractor. Airtasker Airtasker must restrict the ability of job-
retains a significant level of control over posters and workers to devalue work.
workers access to work and how that Wage setting should not be limited to
work is performed. a job-posters budget and what they
believe the value of work is. Nor should
The current distinction between workers be forced to compete with each
employee and independent contractor other in a race to the bottom.
does not accurately capture the
dependent nature of gig-economy Australia has a well-researched and
work exemplified by Airtasker. As it balanced industrial relations system that
stands, workers are dependent on an informs the value of work. Rates of pay
organisation for the provision of work. advertised on Airtasker should not be
Despite this dependence, the status allowed to sit below Award minimum
quo approach to call these workers wages which other businesses comply.
independent contractors and restrict Rates of pay will vary for different tasks,
their access to the rights and safety however these rates could be easily
nets associated with employment is inbuilt into the backend of Airtaskers
unacceptable. To flagrantly disregard website.
150 years of labour standards is to
cultivate an industrial jungle, where Provide Workers
large tech companies can absolve
themselves of responsibility in the name
Compensation Insurance.
of innovation.
No person should go to work without
appropriate workers compensation
The dependent relationship between
insurance. Workers pay a 15.0 percent
workers and Airtasker means they
fee of every job to Airtasker in order to
should have access to their legal
perform work. This fee should provide
entitlements which are accompanied
insurance coverage that provides a
by safety nets which ensure work
safety net to the workers who make
is performed at rates that do not
companies like Airtasker profitable.
undermine clear industry standards.
This is not about wrapping companies
The 15.0 percent fee Airtasker takes
in red tape but rather ensuring
from all tasks should include all
dependent contractors are provided
mandatory entitlements associated
with safety nets which allow them
with dependent employment, including
to pursue decent wages and living
workers compensation insurance,
standards through their work whilst also
superannuation and a casual loading
ensuring a level playing field for small
payment in exchange for the lack of sick
business operators who are adhering to
leave and annual leave entitlements.
legislative requirements.

12
 When a business acts as a Conclusion.
labour hire broker for business,
Current legislation does not
they are a labour hire firm. adequately acknowledge or protect
the employment conditions of workers
engaged in the gig-economy. As this
Airtasker actively encourages
report has illustrated gig-economy
businesses to use Airtasker workers
businesses, such as Airtasker have
to fill staffing needs in their business.
used this loop-hole to their advantage,
Perhaps businesses will use this to
undermining safety standards and well-
complete small tasks, or perhaps
established workplace entitlements to
they will entirely replace employees
drive their business models.
and positions. Airtasker draws no
distinction. Nor does Airtasker seek to
Unions NSW acknowledges technology
restrict businesses from using Airtasker
will continue to drastically alter the way
to opt out of employment and tax
work is performed. Rapid advancement
responsibilities.
in technology and entrepreneurship
will at times mean our legislative
When Airtasker workers are performing
frameworks do not keep abreast with
work for for-profit businesses, Airtasker
changes. This is certainly the case with
is absolutely acting as a labour hire
the gig-economy, particularly in relation
firm and the obligations of employment
to the fair treatment of workers.
should exist.
Legislative change is needed to
Airtasker workers should be able to
bolster the safety net and employment
clearly identify if they are performing
conditions of workers engaged in the
work for an individual or for a business
gig-economy, particularly in relation
or undertaking. Profiles and task ads
to minimum wages and workers
linked to businesses or undertakings
compensation legislation. Further,
should be clearly marked as such.
legislation must ensure gig-economy
Additionally, business profiles and
businesses like Airtasker are not used
previous ads they have posted should
as a mechanism for undercutting
be searchable.
businesses who meet their legitimate tax
and employment obligations.

Workers and their unions, businesses

and government will play a crucial role
in reforming legislation concerning the
nature of work and the gig-economy.

13
Endnotes

1. Smith, P. (2014), Outsourcing odd jobs 20. House of Representatives Standing

pays off as Airtasker expands, Australian Committee on Employment, Workplace
Financial review. Available at: http://www.afr. Relations and Workforce Participation,
com/leadership/entrepreneur/outsourcing- (20015), Making it work: Inquiry into
odd-jobs-pays-off-as-airtasker-expands- independent contracting and labour hire
20140710-jgod6 arrangements, Canberra.
2. Abrahams, N. (2014), Outsourcing odd jobs 21. Airtasker, (2016), Airtasker support when
pays off as Airtasker expands, Australian things go wrong
Financial review. Available at: http://www. 22. Fair Work Act 2009, s. 357.
afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/ 23. Roles, C. Stewart A. (2012), The reach of
investment-banking/australian-tech- labour regulation: tackling sham contracting,
millionaire-production-line-gathers-pace- Australian Journal of Labor Law, issue 25, pp.
20140804-j7121 258-282
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July 2016, from: https://www.airtasker.com/ 25. Airtasker, (2016), Airtasker support when
about/ things go wrong
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members , Airtasker News Blog, accessed do a task, accessed on 12 July 2016 from:
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members/ do-a-task-
5. Hong, E. (2015), Making it work: a closer 27. Airtasker (2014), Airtasker News Blog,,
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14. Airtasker (2016), Airtasker user Agreement, 35. Allen, D. Berg, C. (2014)
section 2.8, accessed 11 July 2016, from: 36. Hagan, J. (1981) The History of the ACTU,
https://www.airtasker.com/terms/ Melbourne: Longman Cheshire, Pty Ltd
15. Fung, T. (2016), Airtasker hits 500,000 37. Australia has an extensive common law and
members , Airtasker News Blog, accessed legislative history regulating the employment
11 July 2016, from: http://blog.airtasker. relationship between employee and
com/airtasker-news/airtasker-hits-500000- employer. For reference see Fair Work Act
members/ 2009, Industrial Relations Act (NSW) 1996,
16. Airtasker (2016), Marketplace rules, accessed Workplace Health and Safety Act
11 July 2016, from: https://www.airtasker. 38. Sadler, D. (2015) Airtasker say the sharing
com/rules/ economy is bigger than Uber Startup Smart,
17. ibid, Rule 11 available at: http://www.startupsmart.com.
18. ibid au/advice/growth/airtasker-says-the-sharing-
19. Allen, D. Berg, C. (2014), The sharing economy-is-bigger-than-uber/
economy how over-regulation could 39. Industrial relations has been a feature
destroy an economic revolution The Institute of Australian federal and state election
of Public Affairs, p. 27 https://ipa.org. campaigns both currently and historically.
au/portal/uploads/Sharing_Economy_ See Muir, K. (2008), Worth Fighting For:
December_2014.pdf Inside the Your Rights at Work Campaign,
Sydney, University of NSW Press.

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