Daily US Times: Giant ride-sharing company Uber to compensate drivers and delivery people diagnosed with the coronavirus or placed in quarantine for up to 14 days.
The company declared it on Sunday.
In a statement, the company said it has already started compensating drivers in some markets and is planning to implement the same benefits for drivers and delivery people worldwide.
Uber’s move to pay drivers exposed to the coronavirus in the United States was reported earlier by Bloomberg News. It had already compensated five quarantined but ultimately non-infected drivers in Britain and Mexico.
Uber has repeatedly said that its drivers are properly classified as contractors. By classifying contractors as employees, technology companies like Uber, DoorDash and Postmates Inc would be subject to labor laws that require higher pay and other benefits, such as medical insurance.
The company did not reveal how much workers would be compensated, but a spokesperson said a team was consulting with organizations and health experts to work out their compensation plan.
Uber is the first company of its kind to announce to compensate drivers.
A US Senator also requested Uber to do more to stop spreading the coronavirus.
17 people have died in the US from the new coronavirus with 300 more have been diagnosed.
There have not been any known cases of the virus spreading between Uber drivers and riders.
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