Uber to offer financial support to Covid-positive drivers

Ride hailing major Uber on May 28 said its drivers testing positive for Covid-19 will receive a one-time payout of up to Rs 6,800 in partial earnings support for 14 days.

Drivers furnishing a positive RT-PCR test from an accredited lab will receive a one-time payout of up to a maximum of Rs 6,800 in partial earnings support for 14 days, depending upon their city of residence and engagement on the platform, according to a statement.

This is in addition to Uber’s previous announcement of the Rs 18.5 crore (USD 2.5 million) initiative to get 1.5 lakh drivers on its platform vaccinated over the next six months.

Uber said Covid-positive drivers will be unable to access the platform while they’re receiving partial earnings support as a safety measure to help limit the spread of the virus.

In the unfortunate event of a driver succumbing to Covid-19, Uber will provide a one-time support package worth Rs 75,000 to help meet the immediate needs of surviving family members, it added.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, Uber drivers have shown themselves to be essential workers, helping India and its people get through the crisis.

“We are pleased to be able to offer drivers who contract the virus partial earnings support while they recuperate at home,” Uber India and South Asia Head (Supply and Driver Operations) Pavan Vaish said.

He added that alongside its driver vaccination programme, the latest initiative will help Indian authorities to break Covid-19’s transmission chain.

As India reels under the impact of the deadly second wave of coronavirus infections, several organisations across the spectrum have come forward to support the relief efforts.

Efforts to ramp up vaccination are also underway. India has so far administered over 20.5 crore jabs to eligible beneficiaries