A joint announcement has been issued by leading insurance provider AXA and ridesharing giant Uber providing comprehensive coverage for its drivers and couriers within Europe.
Coined Partner Protection and active from June 1, Uber will provide a range of protections including accident, injury, illness, and paternity benefits for drivers and couriers when they are both on and off the app.
The initiative will be funded by Uber at no cost to all eligible drivers and courier partners- also known as ‘independent partners’.
Uber say over 150,000 drivers and couriers will be covered instantly, with that figure expected to rise.
To qualify, drivers must have completed 150 trips in the previous eight weeks; while a partner on their food delivery app Eats must have completed at least 30 deliveries in the previous eight weeks.
Uber and AXA also announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to build a joint affinity marketplace for independent workers. With the aim of empowering partner drivers and couriers to be able to maintain their independent lifestyle in full security via a digital platform.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, said, “Uber wouldn’t be what it is without drivers and couriers – they are at the heart of the Uber experience. We’re committed to being better a partner, and that starts by being a better listener. That’s why I’m thrilled to provide this groundbreaking protection alongside a trusted insurer like AXA, giving our drivers and couriers the peace of mind they tell us they want while preserving the flexibility they value. We’ll continue to ensure that the voices of the drivers and couriers are heard as we take Uber forward together”
Thomas Buberl, CEO of AXA, added, “AXA’s aim is to provide everyone with optimum protection. With the digital revolution, forms of work have been changing engendering new needs for protection. Our innovative partnership with Uber has proved that a world leader in insurance and one of the most emblematic companies in the new economy can successfully join forces to accompany these deep transformations. I am thrilled with the prospects engendered in continuing to cater to our customers evolving needs”.
