Uber pledges to boost safety for SA drivers as accidents rise Kim Harrisberg > By Kim Harrisberg - 26 April 2021 - 14:17 We re committed to doing the right thing and take on our part of the responsibility to better safety in the industry, says Uber SA. Stock photo. Image: 123RF/Christian Mueller
Uber SA has pledged to increase safety campaigns for food delivery drivers and review the insurance they provide.
This follows a Thomson Reuters Foundation report about the mounting risks faced by drivers during the Covid-19 pandemic, citing a lack of training and safety equipment coupled with poorly advertised and often insufficient insurance cover.
Uber pledges to boost safety for S Africa drivers as accidents rise reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Food delivery drivers seek better employee rights
17 Apr 2021
Hidden damages: A driver shows x-rays from an accident he was in while driving for Uber. (Kim Harrisberg/Thomson Reuters Foundation)
More than a year after Malawian driver Matthew was hit by a car while delivering food on his motorbike in Pretoria, he lives with a shooting pain in his foot and fears for his life when he hits the road.
His injuries, including a broken toe, left him unable to work for a month, but the company he works for Uber Eats said he did not qualify for compensation as he was in hospital for less than 48 hours.
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JOHANNESBURG/BERLIN, April 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - M ore than a year after Malawian driver Matthew was hit by a car while delivering food on his motorbike in South Africa, he lives with a shooting pain in his foot and fears for his life every time he hits the road.
His injuries, including a broken toe and various cuts, left him unable to work for a month, but the company he was riding for - Uber Eats - told him he did not qualify for compensation as he was in hospital for less than 48 hours.
Drivers and analysts fear the number of logged accidents was the tip of the iceberg as many drivers avoid reporting incidents due to their undocumented status in SA and concern about losing jobs.
“I have seen drivers die on the road, a lot, and so many injured,” said Matthew, who left Malawi four years ago in search of a better life.
He said many drivers do not report accidents because “it is a waste of time”.
CALLS FOR CHANGE
As the number of accidents rises, increasing numbers of drivers are pushing for a formal national union to help couriers fight for better working conditions.