Highlights
- Riders and Transport Workers’ Union NSW demand government withdraw proposed laws
- NSW Government says its inspectors found nine in 10 food delivery riders don’t wear safe and hi-visibility clothing
- Riders claim they work on low pay, fear police fines
Sydney’s food delivery riders and Transport Workers’ Union NSW staged a protest today outside Parliament of New South Wales against the state’s proposed laws to regulate their movement on the roads in the state.
The protestors allege these proposed laws have been designed with the motive to "monitor, target, and fine riders in police blitzes".
“Five delivery riders died last year (in road accidents) and the response of the government is to fine them instead of doing something for them. I want to ask them why that is. Is it because a majority of us are immigrants,” asked a protesting delivery driver.
“Is it because they are students or do the people in power think that delivery drivers simply don’t matter? I want to ask how a jacket (hi-vis) will protect me when I get hit by a car?
“Now they have regulated us and imposed fines upon us. When are they are going to start regulating the companies which are the real culprits here,” the protestor questioned.
Under the proposed laws, food delivery platforms will need to provide their riders with protective equipment and induction training. A unique identifying number will be provided to the rider after completing the training through their food delivery platforms.
The New South Wales government may also set up a new penalty system to crack down on riders for “repeated unsafe practices”.
The new measures were proposed in the wake of the death of four food delivery riders and over 50 casualties in the state last year. These changes are likely to be implemented through amendments to the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 later this year.
TWU said the New South Wales government’s move will not prevent deaths and injuries.
“A poll of over 200 riders has revealed 84 per cent believe the move will increase pressure on them, while two-thirds said it will not prevent deaths or injuries,” it said in a statement sent to SBS Hindi.
“The survey also showed financial pressure from low pay and police fines causes riders to take risks,” the TWU statement added.
Findings of TWU’s latest poll:
- Three in four riders had to buy cheap, less safe equipment like bikes and helmets because of low pay
- Over half have been fined by police while working as delivery riders
- Almost three-quarters said pressure to pay fines made them work more dangerously, including working longer hours and rushing to complete more deliveries
- Two-thirds said they struggle to pay rent, bills and buy food because of fines
A 2020 TWU rider survey revealed:
- Food delivery riders earn as little as $5 per delivery
- Seventy per cent say they struggle to pay bills and buy food
- More than one in three have been injured on the job, with the vast majority (80 per cent) receiving no support from their company
Premier Gladys Berejiklian-led New South Wales government has proposed new laws to regulate the gig economy and food delivery riders. Source: AAP Image/Paul Braven
“The proposed measures are aimed at both food delivery platforms and riders to improve work health and safety outcomes in the food delivery sector,” the spokesperson said.
On June 5, Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson said their inspectors found almost nine in 10 food delivery riders were not wearing safe, hi-visibility clothing and 40 per cent ride in an unsafe manner.
“Enough is enough. Following the tragic deaths of four riders late last year, we immediately increased education and compliance to try to lift safety standards, but we can no longer stand by while riders continue placing themselves and others at risk.
“That’s why we will now introduce the toughest safety requirements for food delivery platforms and riders anywhere in Australia,” Mr Anderson said.
Hardeep Singh, a 20-year-old international student in Sydney who also works as a food delivery rider, told SBS Hindi said that while the government might have the right intentions to safeguard riders, it has not understood the problem.
Hardeep Singh said the NSW government might have the right intentions to safeguard riders, but it has not understood the problem. Source: Supplied by Hardeep Singh
“Often riders are not at fault in case of accidents. In most cases, it is the constant bullying by other road users, especially bikies and P-platers that leads to unsafe situations,” Mr Singh said.
“They torture us on the road with racial slurs, constant honking and even throw objects such as bottles at us. Sometimes they pull our delivery bags while we are riding, throwing us out of balance. Other drivers overtake us dangerously,” said Mr Singh, who met with a major accident in December last year.
He said he was at a pedestrian crossing when a vehicle knocked him and left him unconscious for two days. He suffered severe injuries on his shoulders, lungs and lost three teeth.
Mr Singh was unable to work for the next three months and authorities are still investigating his case. He received financial support from his company for at least 15 days.
Another Sydney food delivery rider and international student, Aashu Bansal, said that he has met with an accident four times in the past year-and-a-half while delivering food.
A food delivery rider leaves after picking up food from a restaurant in Sydney. Source: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts
“It is wrong to assume that riders are always at fault. I was hit by a car in a shared zone. It is time the government ran a road safety awareness campaign for all road users,” Mr Bansal told SBS Hindi.
Food delivery giant Uber Eats said it has recently taken steps to address this concern.
“In March, we launched a range of new safety initiativesaimed at helping delivery people stay safe on our roads, including the roll-out of personal protective equipment, new in-app tech features and education modules which have been built specifically for the Australian market,” it said in an emailed response to SBS Hindi’s queries.
Uber Eats also stated they had begun rolling out access to free bicycle safety kits, including a reflective safety vest, bike lights and reflectors, a bell and a mobile phone holder for riders.
Uber Eats said they have begun rolling out access to free bicycle safety Kits, including a reflective safety vest and bike lights. Source: Supplied by TWU
“In addition, (we have) launched a partnership to offer discounted motorbike equipment to motorbike and scooter delivery people through a leading motorbike equipment provider," Uber Eats added.
Another food delivery platform, DoorDash, told SBS Hindi that it had been providing its riders personal safety equipment, including PPE such as gloves, masks and hand sanitisers since last July.
“DoorDash offers bike safety gear such as reflective armbands to help Dashers more safely navigate the streets and assigns bike-friendly deliveries for Dashers on bikes,” it said.
Deliveroo, which also has a significant presence in the Australian food delivery market, said the company supplies reflective kits for free to all riders, including a reflective shell jacket with removable layers and two different-sized reflective food courier bags.
“Further, in response to rider feedback, we are in the process of issuing free high vis vests to all riders who use scooters, motorcycles or bicycles to conduct deliveries,” Deliveroo told SBS Hindi in an emailed response.
The three companies said that they cover their riders through insurance policies.
Menulog’s response to SBS Hindi’s queries is still awaited.
