If you live in an Australian city, chances are you have seen a veritable army of food delivery riders armed with giant, refrigerated backpacks loaded down with pad Thai, fried chicken or the latest in burger fashion.
As casual workers though, delivery drivers and others within the sharing economy have often been underinsured during their work.
Now, food delivery service Deliveroo has announced that it will add a side of insurance for all its riders based in the UK. The firm has announced that it is offering riders sickness and accident insurance in what is believed to be a first for the industry.
The cover means riders will be able to claim 75% of their average weekly income for up to 26 weeks, if they are unable to work due to illness or through an injury sustained on the job, The Daily Mail reports. Bike riders will also be given access to public liability insurance, believed to be another first of its kind in on-demand food delivery.
“We know the thing our riders value the most is flexibility to fit their work around their lives, rather than their lives to work. But they also deserve security while they’re out on the road,” Dan Warne, managing director of Deliveroo said, according to The Daily Mail. “This new insurance gives riders security in the event of an injury while maintaining the flexible work they value.”
The scheme provides riders with up to £2 million ($3.5 million) in public liability cover, the report notes.
Warne said that the only thing stopping the firm from offering similar services is legislation, as UK regulators get up to date with the sharing economy.
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