Uber’s food-delivery arm, which employs ‘riders’ to courier food to customers, is to start offering an insurance plan to its workers, it has emerged today.
From January 08, Uber Eats will offer its riders in Europe an
AXA insurance plan that will provide coverage for personal accidents, cash benefits for hospitalisation, property damage and cover for third-party injury.
Couriers will be able to benefit from the policy whether they are fully independent or employed via a third party, and the company will pay for the insurance,
Reuters reports.
Companies in the so-called gig economy, such as Uber and Deliveroo, have come under fire for the way that workers are treated, with accusations of exploitative practices.
Workers are typically self-employed, but some have argued that the companies owe them employment rights.
Two drivers for Uber’s ride-hailing app, which has more than 40,000 drivers in London alone, took the company to a tribunal in the capital, where they successfully argued that the company had responsibilities toward them. The tribunal found that Uber does owe drivers minimum wage and holiday pay under a “worker contract.”
Of Uber Eats’ insurance rollout, its general manager for Europe said that couriers “can now enjoy the freedom and flexibility of working on their own schedule with the peace of mind provided by additional security and protection.”
The AXA plan will provide riders with up to €7,500 (£6,592) coverage for medical expenses from an accident that results in hospitalisation, or €3,000 euros (£2,637) if the hospitalisation is for three consecutive nights or more.
Couriers will also get a cash benefit for severe sickness or injury and cover for third party bodily injuries and property damage.
Alongside the UK, Uber Eats currently operates in Austria, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.
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