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The gig economy is attracts a high rate of new immigrants and people of colour, and there are concerns that they may become entrenched as second-class citizens in B.C.

Last year, the province surveyed app-based workers, companies, academics and business associations in Kamloops, Kelowna and several other B.C. cities. A report of its findings was released earlier this week.

“Many are new immigrants, new Canadians who are trying to establish their lives as quickly as possible in Canada, and the barrier to being hired is quite low,” Burnaby-North BC NDP MLA Janet Routledge told iNFOnews.ca.

“Some researchers stated that from a public interest standpoint, there's danger in creating a new class of workers with fewer rights/protections than employees, as this could entrench inequality by creating a second-class of predominantly racialized app-based workers that enjoy fewer rights and protections than employees,” the report reads.

READ MORE: Delivery drivers in B.C. paid below minimum wage asked to file official complaint

App-based jobs give workers the option to set their own hours and choose which orders to accept. Many of them – whether they’re new to Canada or not – expressed their appreciation for the flexibility app-based jobs offer in the report.

“Companies argued this flexibility was particularly important for their workers,” according to the report. “One platform company noted that some of their workers are caregivers, who require the kind of flexibility the platform offers in order to earn income while also meeting family responsibilities.”

But Routledge said most of the people who the province engaged with are not just doing deliveries as a side hustle.

“What we also discovered, contrary to popular opinion, most of the drivers are trying to make a living doing this, it’s not a side gig for them,” she said.

And while the level of flexibility offered is important, many workers feel ripped off by the companies in other aspects.

Routledge said that despite having the option to decline orders, workers are under pressure to accept low-paying tasks or else they lose out on other incentives, and as a result, many of them are working for multiple apps simultaneously.

The tips don’t always get to the workers. Many workers complete 10 to 12 hour shifts and then realize they earned less than minimum wage. Sometimes they’re denied access to the restrooms at the restaurants they’re picking up orders from. And one employee was suspended from the app for two weeks because of an error on the other end.

“They want basic fundamental rights, and the same level of dignity and respect we all want in our jobs,” Routledge said.

READ MORE: Delivery apps skip the labour laws in B.C. by paying less than minimum wage

The report found many gig workers assume the app they work for will insure them if they get hurt while on the job, however that is not the case since they are considered independent contractors.

Also, some of the workers are classified as independent contractors, even though they should be recognized as employees, according to the worker’s organizations that took part in the survey.

“These organizations suggested the current system for addressing misclassification is inadequate because it falls to individual workers to challenge their status if they believe they are being misclassified,” the report says.

Although there are concerns that some workers could become entrenched as second-class citizens, many of the stakeholders who participated in the survey agree that it could be beneficial to establish minimum standards for the industry.

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