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A 22-year-old Indian student from Mumbai, Akshay Doultani, who came to Sydney to pursue a Master’s degree in finance, died in a bike collision with an SUV while working as an Uber Eats rider. He was the 12th food delivery rider to be killed on the job since 2017. The incident has sparked calls for transport reforms and better safety measures for gig workers. Uber Eats stated that they have policies in place to enhance road safety and provide support for their delivery workers. IANS reported
The individual depicted in the provided image, a 22-year-old Uber Eats rider, lost his life in a collision with an SUV in Sydney. Hailing from Mumbai, India, the young man, identified as Akshay Doultani, had arrived in Sydney in February on a scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree in finance at Macquarie University. Tragically, he passed away at the Royal North Shore hospital on July 22nd due to the accident. This incident marks the 12th fatality of a food delivery rider while on duty since 2017, as confirmed by Labor senator Tony Sheldon during a parliamentary session. Senator Sheldon expressed that Akshay had come to Australia with aspirations of achieving his dreams and providing his family with a better future. The collision occurred at the intersection of Blaxland Road and Epping Road in Epping, where Akshay was making a delivery on his scooter. According to Akshay’s cousin, his sole motivation for going abroad was to improve his family’s quality of life. Akshay had been working as a food delivery rider at least three times a week to cover his tuition fees. The devastating loss has deeply affected his parents, who are struggling to come to terms with their son’s untimely demise. The fatal crash is currently under investigation by the New South Wales Police and Safework NSW. Senator Sheldon pointed out that Akshay’s tragic fate serves as a stark reminder of the perils associated with the gig economy, where workers often push themselves to the brink just to make ends meet. He called for transportation reforms to ensure that the approximately 250,000 gig workers in the industry receive adequate employment rights and fair compensation. In response, Uber Eats asserted its commitment to the safety of its delivery workers and highlighted the existence of policies aimed at enhancing road safety. The company spokesperson emphasized that Uber Eats delivery personnel in Australia are covered by a dedicated support package..
