A 54-year-old delivery worker named Joe suffered near-total paralysis following a traffic accident in Sheung Shui. While operating his vehicle, Joe was distracted by an incoming order notification from the Keeta platform. Fearing penalties for declining the request, he diverted his attention from the road for a few seconds, resulting in a collision with a stationary vehicle. Although he sustained only minor external injuries, the impact caused severe spinal cord damage. This incident has drawn attention to potential deficiencies in current legislative proposals regarding gig economy labor protections. Joe, who has since regained limited mobility in his fingers and one leg, serves as a case study for the risks faced by platform workers under existing operational pressures. The incident underscores calls for stronger safety regulations to address the systemic challenges inherent in app-based delivery work.
Source : Hong Kong Free Press
Photo : Hong Kong Free Press
