Deaths highlight plight of delivery riders Published: 1:22 AM, May 14, 2021 SHARE
Lockdown-fuelled demand for take-out meals has brought throngs of new delivery riders onto streets around the world, but in Australia, the boom has also seen tragedy with a spate of road deaths highlighting the plight of couriers.
As many industries ground to a halt last year, millions lost their jobs, and others were asked to work from home, 43-year-old Xiaojun Chen was among the legions of couriers who rushed out on the job.
The work was hard, the hours were long, and most of Chen s pay went back home to China but he was driven by a dream to send his 15-year-old daughter to university.
Deaths in Australia highlight pandemic plight of delivery riders
Australian and New Zealand app Menulog last month moved toward treating its Australian delivery riders as employees
By Andrew Leeson
May 12, 2021 06:19 BST
Lockdown-fuelled demand for take-out meals has brought throngs of new delivery riders onto streets around the world, but in Australia the boom has also seen tragedy with a spate of road deaths highlighting the plight of couriers.
As many industries ground to a halt last year, millions lost their jobs and others were asked to work from home, 43-year-old Xiaojun Chen was among the legions of couriers who rushed out on the job.