NRI Akshay Doultani working as Uber Eats driver,
killed in crash in Australia'

Los Angeles, July 08, 2023
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

NRI Akshay Deepak Doultani, 22, died while riding for Uber Eats on Saturday 22 July after a collision with an SUV in Epping in Sydney’s north-west. Paramedics treated Doultani but he later died at the Royal North Shore hospital.

Labor senator Tony Sheldon identified Doultani as the rider in a short statement to parliament on Monday, with permission from the man’s family. Doultani was studying a master’s degree in finance at Macquarie University, after receiving a scholarship allowing him to come to Australia.

Labor senator Tony Sheldon Said

• Akshay came to this country on a scholarship to pursue his dreams and give his family a brighter future.
• At around 8pm at the intersection of Blaxland Road and Epping Road, in Epping, Akshay was making a delivery on his scooter when he was hit by an SUV.”

The government is currently considering reforms to the gig worker industry to better protect workers. Those reforms would set minimum pay and conditions and give the Fair Work Commission the remit to regulate “employee-like workers”

The death is being investigated by police and the state’s work safety watchdog, Safework. Uber Eats says it has offered assistance to police and is attempting to expedite the insurance process for the worker’s family.

The Transport Workers’ Union said the death showed the urgency of the planned gig worker reforms.

TWU national secretary, Michael Kaine, said gig economy workers were denied basic rights, like minimum wage, sick leave, workers’ compensation and protections against unfair terminations.