The Contractor Label Is Not a Shield

Calling an offshore worker a contractor no longer protects an Australian employer, and the lesson reaches every business that hires across borders.

In Pascua v Doessel Group (2024, appeal refused 2025) and Digo v BikesOnline Australia (2026), the Fair Work Commission looked past the word “contractor”. It found that a Philippines-based paralegal and a Philippines-based accountant were employees of Australian businesses.