The labor ministry has announced that two food delivery companies are to be fined for failing to comply with labor laws regarding fatal accidents on the job.
Three food delivery workers were killed in traffic accidents over the long National Day weekend.
The labor ministry says that food delivery companies Foodpanda and Ubereats failed to report the accidents within eight hours, as required by the law. Both companies now face fines of up to NT$300,000 (US$ 9,791)
The ministry also say the companies will be subject to fines of up to NT$1 million (US$32,629) if they fail to pay death benefits to the families of the deceased workers. In addition, the companies may be fined up to NT$1.75 million (US$57,100) if they can’t produce the deceased workers’ attendance records by the end of Wednesday.
After an investigation, the labor ministry also declared that food delivery workers are employees of the companies they work for, and are therefore entitled to labor insurance. However, Foodpanda has rejected the labor ministry’s decision. On Monday, the company said that its workers are independent contractors, not employees.