New laws passed under the Closing Loopholes Bill come into effect today, offering greater protections for transport workers.

This will see owner drivers and gig workers offered protection from unfair termination of their contracts under the Road Transport Industry Termination Code and the Digital Labour Platform Code.

The Transport Workers’ Union says “immense contract demands” from supply chains have for years put pressure on drivers to cut corners on safety and fatigue.

For the first time, from today, gig workers can also access the Fair Work Commission for unfair deactivations and access reinstatement and compensation.

The laws come after the TWU says one in four gig workers have been deactivated by an app.

Up until now, gig workers had been classed as independent contractors, meaning they didn’t have any rights against unfair dismissal.

The union says the new rights are “crucial” for owner drivers and gig workers to lift safety standards in road transport.

“From today, tens of thousands of gig workers can no longer just be kicked off an app. At the same time, owner drivers who’ve been under immense and deadly pressures just to keep their contracts will also have new protections,” TWU national secretary Michael Kaine says.

“It is mind boggling that for so long, gig workers have been sacked by AI without even a reason or a right to reply. Gig platforms have deployed algorithms in ways which have completely derailed the lives of workers for far too long. Today that comes to an end.

“These are huge steps forward for safety and dignity in road transport work, and we’re using every tool at our disposal to make this industry better with these new laws brought in by the Albanese government.

“Combined with the applications we’ve made in parcel delivery, food delivery and for fairer contract terms, Australia is now leading the world with these reforms. With broad industry consultation now underway, these laws will save businesses and lives.”