The rise of new technology and changing patterns of work have always co-existed. The rise of platform work and the so-called ‘gig economy’ has brought with it challenges to existing conceptions of work and the law which regulates it, and has upended the existing legal order. In this course, we examine the new modes of work in the gig economy, together with new attempts by civil society, as well as legal and political actors, to regulate it.
The following topics will be covered:
- Purposes and theories underpinning the regulation of work
- What is the gig economy?
- What is work in the gig economy?
- Minimum work entitlements: who can access them and what are they?
- The legal distinction between employment and other work relationships
- Legal regulation of work in the gig economy
- Case study: transportation
- Case study: disability support work
- Case study: freelance work
- Work in the gig economy – fairness meets flexibility: perspectives from the United Kingdom
- Work in the gig economy – fairness meets flexibility: perspectives from Canada
- Work in the gig economy – fairness meets flexibility: innovative Australian approaches
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Critically analyse patterns of work in the gig economy and their legal regulation
- Critically analyse and evaluate the law in the context of the public policy challenges posed by work in the gig economy
- Plan and execute the outcomes of independent research and critically reflect on the material in an extended piece of writing
- Develop and use communication skills to solve complex legal and regulatory problems
Other Information
None
Indicative Assessment
- Multiple choice quizzes comprising (1) questions based on complex fact scenarios and (2) questions aimed at testing general knowledge for each three-topic block (four in total), worth 7.5% each (30) [LO 1,4]
- Research essay or law reform submission (70) [LO 1,2,3,4]
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Workload
- Classes offered in non-standard sessions will be taught on an intensive base with compulsory contact hours (approximately 26 hours of face to face teaching). The course will also require advanced preparation through assigned readings. In total, it is anticipated that the hours required for completion of this course (class preparation, teaching and completion of assessment) will not exceed 120 hours.
- Classes offered during semester periods are expected to have three contact hours per week.
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Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Students must rely on the approved Class Summary which will be posted to the Programs and Courses site approximately two weeks prior to the commencement of the course. Alternatively, this information will be published in the Program course list when known.
Preliminary Reading
There is no prescribed text, but an e-brick of readings will be made available on the course Wattle site.
Assumed Knowledge
None
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 34
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $4740 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $6000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Autumn Session
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3522 | 26 Apr 2022 | 27 Apr 2022 | 06 May 2022 | 23 Jun 2022 | Online | View |