About the event

This seminar discussed work arrangements in which the worker agrees to be available for work and is called in to work as and when s/he is needed by the employer – what can be called on-demand work. It described two main types: a) zero-hour work arrangements; and b) minimum-hour work arrangements. Both are highly precarious forms of work, linked to negative consequences for workers. These work arrangements are neglected in much research in Australia, often considered only in relation to platform work in the gig economy. But they are in fact spread widely through the casual and permanent part-time workforce in Australia and account for a substantial minority of the workforce. The presentation summarised what is known about on-demand work and on-demand workers, drawing on recent research (Campbell, MacDonald and Charlesworth 2019), and concluded with some suggestions for regulatory reform.

About the speaker

Iain Campbell is an experienced researcher in the field of employment relations, with special expertise in precarious work, working hours, casualisation and trade unions. He currently works as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Employment and Labour Relations Law, University of Melbourne, collaborating with colleagues on research publications and projects concerning temporary migrant workers and precarious work in Australia.