Uber and other food delivery firms must insure drivers against accidents that result in death or permanent disability, an ordinance passed by the New Taipei City Council on Thursday says.
The ordinance applies to delivery platforms that are registered or provide services in the city, New Taipei City Labor Affairs Department Commissioner Chen Jui-chia (陳瑞嘉) said.
Platforms that rely on contract drivers are required to provide accident insurance guaranteeing compensation of at least NT$3 million (US$101,163), in addition to medical insurance for work-related injuries that provides full coverage or a per diem policy, Chen said.
Contravening the rules would result in a fine of NT$300,000 to NT$100,000, he said.
The ordinance stipulates that platforms must suspend services if the New Taipei City Government cancels workdays due to a natural disaster, except when there is a compelling reason to continue serving customers or when the lack of risk is self-evident, he said.
Platforms would be required to ensure that their drivers receive occupational safety training and clearly understand the app’s method of calculating pay, Chen said.
New Taipei City councilors during the second reading deleted a proposed article that would have limited the maximum number of hours drivers could work, he said.
The article was cut because it might have become a pretext for platforms to refuse to pay drivers for overtime and might contravene contractors’ right to work, Chen said.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS