Delivery rider deaths could be subject of coronial inquest

The deaths of four food delivery riders could be jointly investigated in a coronial inquest that would scrutinise safety standards within the gig economy.

The NSW Coroners Court is weighing up whether to launch a public inquiry into the deaths of Uber Eats riders Dede Fredy, Bijoy Paul and Ik Wong, and Hungry Panda rider Xiaojun Chen, who were killed in road accidents while working in Sydney in late 2020.

Bijoy Paul, a 27-year-old Uber Eats rider from Bangladesh, was killed in a road incident in 2020.

The potential judicial review comes after an overhaul of safety standards imposed upon the on-demand delivery industry by the NSW and Victorian governments, and a push by unions and the federal opposition to change workplace legislation affecting members of the gig economy.

Mr Fredy, 36, died three days after a collision with a car in Marrickville, in Sydney’s inner west, in September 2020, leaving behind family in Indonesia.

Mr Paul, 27, from Bangladesh, died in hospital after a crash with a car in the southern Sydney suburb of Rockdale about 11am on November 21 while completing an order. Mr Chen, 43, died on September 29 after a collision with a bus in Zetland. Less is known about Ik Wong, who died in Sydney on November 23.

The Department of Communities and Justice has confirmed the deaths are being reviewed by deputy state coroner Derek Lee to determine whether an inquest will proceed.

The Transport Workers’ Union, which contributed to a rider safety taskforce led by NSW’s transport and work safety authorities, urged the court to proceed with the inquest, with national secretary Michael Kaine saying investigations are long overdue.

“The families of riders killed continue to grapple with the indescribable loss of their loved one and deserve answers. That’s why these inquests must proceed,” Mr Kaine said, joining calls to expand any investigation to include the death in April 2020 of 30-year-old Turkish student Burak Dogan.

Mr Dogan was an Uber Eats rider but whether he was riding for the platform at the time of his death is a point of contention.

According to Uber, he was not making an Uber Eats delivery at the time and had not completed a delivery that day, but there are media reports he was sent two delivery requests by the company following the collision with a truck in Sydney’s inner west.

Xiaojun Chen (right) died in Sydney in a motor vehicle incident while working for delivery company Hungry Panda.

His relative, Yavuz Cikar, described Mr Dogan as a “bright young man” who had studied engineering and came to Australia to further his education. He called for Mr Dogan’s death to be included in any investigation.

“I would like to do what I’m capable of doing on behalf of Burak to be able to find some justice in this industry,” he said, adding he believed there was enough evidence to show Mr Dogan was working for Uber Eats at the time.

Two delivery riders also died in Melbourne during 2020, including 36-year-old Malaysian man Chow Khai Shien, who was working for US delivery giant DoorDash when his scooter was involved in a collision in late October.

Relatives have called for Burak Dogan’s death to be included in any investigation.

An Uber spokesperson said the platform last year sped up its rollout of personal protective equipment, in-app tech features and education modules built specifically for the Australian market over safety concerns.

“We are committed to working with the government, partners and experts in the industry to continually raise the bar for online food delivery safety,” the spokesperson said. “The loss of Dede Fredy, Bijoy Paul and Ik Wong is devastating and our thoughts are with their family and friends.”

Following an inquiry into the on-demand workforce, the Victorian government is proposing a set of standards that will require delivery platforms to adhere to conditions around fair pay, dispute resolution, mechanisms around bargaining power and arrangements around worker representation, including the ability to seek better conditions.

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