Bangladeshi student killed in Australia road accident

Bijoy Paul, a 27-year-old Bangladeshi student, died in a hospital after being hit by car in Sydney, Australia on Saturday.

Bijoy, who also used to work as a rider for UberEats, was hit by the car while delivering orders around 11am on the day, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

The accident victim had travelled to Australia to complete a master’s of information technology in early 2019.

An off-duty paramedic treated Bijoy before emergency services arrived and took him to St George Hospital, where he died on Saturday afternoon.  

Bijoy is the fourth delivery rider to die on Australian roads in the past three months. Delivery riders paid their respects to Bijoy on Facebook, remembering him as someone who was "good and nice to all."

Michael Kaine, Australian national secretary of the Transport Workers Union, said: “Riders are being put onto bikes with no training or protective gear, they are working our streets day and night for little pay. They have no right to insurance and when they get injured or die, it’s at the discretion of their companies as to whether they and their families get supported.”

He added that the Australian federal government should act to change the legal regime that allows gig economy companies to classify their workforce as independent contractors, who do not get benefits such as minimum wage, workers compensation and superannuation that employees receive.

Unlike some gig economy companies, Uber offers insurance to its workers and a spokesman said it had been in contact Chubb, the company it has partnered with about Bijoy’s case. Under the policy, riders can get $150 a day for 30 days if they cannot work because of an injury acquired while on a trip. It also includes lump sum payments if a rider dies.

"Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Bijoy Paul who died in hospital following a road accident on Saturday," the spokesman said. "Throughout the weekend our law enforcement team engaged with New South Wales Police to offer our full assistance and notified SafeWork NSW."

The car driver, a 20-year-old woman, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing. Police investigations are continuing.