Hong Kong delivery drivers demand fairer injury compensation after long delays and low payouts

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Hong Kong delivery drivers are expressing frustration over the proposed injury compensation scheme for gig workers, citing concerns about low payouts, long delays, and the lack of long-term income considerations. The issue has sparked debate among workers, unions, and lawmakers, as many argue that the current system fails to reflect their actual earnings and working conditions. The proposed statutory work injury compensation scheme, the first of its kind in the city, aims to protect gig workers, but drivers say it does not yet address their most pressing concerns.

Workers demand fairer compensation based on long-term income

Delivery drivers, who often work long hours and face unpredictable income, are calling for compensation to be calculated based on longer-term income averages rather than just the earnings of the month in which the injury occurred. “If a worker only earned four or five thousand dollars that month, the payout would be too low,” said one rider, highlighting the financial strain caused by the current system. Many argue that the proposed scheme, while a step forward, still fails to account for the volatility of gig work and the real income they earn over time.

Current insurance policies provide limited support, with payouts capped at HK$3,900 per week.

According to information from the city’s two major delivery platforms, Keeta and Foodpanda, the group personal accident insurance policies they currently purchase provide temporary total disablement payouts capped at HK$3,900 per week or 75 per cent of average weekly service fees, whichever is lower, for a maximum of five weeks. This has left many riders, like Ali, who lost his usual monthly income of between HK$32,000 and HK$35,000 during his recovery, feeling that the compensation is insufficient.

Unions push for inclusion of occupational diseases and logged-on time

Unions representing delivery workers are also pushing for the inclusion of occupational diseases in the compensation scheme, as many riders suffer from hand strains and other injuries due to the physical demands of the job. Lawmaker Lam Chun-sing, chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, emphasized that the diagnostic bar for occupational diseases is already high, and doctor-certified cases are rare. “We should use the higher of the three-month or one-year average to reflect actual earnings,” he said, calling for a more comprehensive approach to compensation.

Logged-on waiting time is seen as part of working hours, not just idle time.

Additionally, workers argue that logged-on waiting time should be treated as protected working hours. “If we are online, it means we are giving full time to the platform. We are working,” said one rider, highlighting the reality of their work schedule. Many spend up to 10 hours a day logged on, waiting for orders, and believe this time should be counted as part of their working hours for compensation purposes. Despite the proposed scheme, many drivers have experienced long delays in receiving compensation, with some waiting over a year for their claims to be processed. Waqas Ali, a rider for the Keeta platform, has been waiting more than 18 months for compensation after a hospitalization due to an injury. “I kept messaging the insurance agent and they only replied that it will come soon,” he said, expressing frustration over the lack of transparency and support.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han has stated that logged-on waiting time will not be included in the coverage, citing concerns about the flexibility of platform work and the potential for moral hazard. However, workers and unions argue that this exclusion leaves them vulnerable and without adequate protection. As the gig economy continues to grow, the demand for fairer compensation and clearer protections is becoming more urgent among delivery drivers in Hong Kong.