Updated on 10/05/2022
This guideline provides food delivery couriers with clear and latest information about the financial support provided by the companies and government.
If you or your friends are infected with Covid-19 and have questions regarding any of the topics below, you can contact the Riders’ Rights Concern Group through WhatsApp 9199 2809.
1. Deliveroo’s Rider Support Fund
Q: What kind of support will Deliveroo provide if I am confirmed with Covid-19?
A: According to Deliveroo's website, the company states that riders who are confirmed with Covid or placed in quarantine by a medical authority will be eligible for financial support for a period of up to 14 days.
Q: How much could I get?
A: It is not clear. Deliveroo has NOT publicly disclosed the amount of fund. Up to 31/03/2022, the Concern Group has heard of 4 workers all getting 2000 HKD. However, it is still not sure whether all the successful applicants will get the same amount of the grant.
Additionally, according to Deliveroo’s reply to applicants, "the old ZA relief funding scheme has ended on Dec 31st, 2021", which means that the 20,000 HKD fund is not available now.
Deliveroo's reply to an applicant on 31/03/2022
Q: What are the eligibility criteria? (Who can apply?)
A: According to Deliveroo’s reply to applicants, there are at least 3 criteria:
You must work regularly with Deliveroo
You can provide a proof of COVID-19 diagnosis*
You can provide a proof of treatment in Hong Kong*
Note: Deliveroo has NOT publicly disclosed the eligibility criteria, the required documents of Deliveroo’s Rider Support Fund because the ZA bank has NOT provided updated information.
*As far as we know, one part-time worker was tested positive using self-test-kits. He reported his case to the Government through the "Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test”, and later he received the Isolation Order issued by the Center of Health Protection. He provided Deliveroo with the Isolation Order and successfully claim the Rider Support Fund.
Q: How to apply for financial support?
A: According to Deliveroo’s reply to the applicants, couriers should fill out the application form and send the following documents to the company through Rider Support “Contact us”:
A valid Hong Kong Identity Card
Registered phone number
A proof of COVID-19 diagnosis AND treatment in Hong Kong such as isolation order, medical report, doctor’s letter, or discharge summary (Supporting documents must be submitted within 90 days from the date of consultation/treatment, whichever is later)
Please kindly note that, once you submit the claim, Deliveroo will temporally suspend your account and reactivate it when you provide negative results.
Deliveroo's reply to the Concern Group on 7/3/2022
Q: When will I get the financial support?
A: After the application is approved, the Supporting Fund will be transferred to Rider’s registered bank account within 2 weeks. Such payment will be shown under “Fee adjustment- Supporting Fund” in your Self-invoice.
Q: When will Deliveroo reactivate my account?
A: Deliveroo will reactivate your account after you provide the negative testing results via email.
For couriers who have received at least two doses of Covid-19 Vaccines, you are required to provide negative results of days 6 and 7 (2 successive days)*.
For couriers who have NOT received at least two doses of Vaccines, you are required to provide negative result of day 14*.
Your account should be reactivated by 2 working days after the company receives the documents.
*The day following testing or collection of sample is counted as the first day; if there is no such testing or collection record, the day on receiving positive nucleic acid test result is counted as the first day; if you did not provide the information mentioned above, the day you inform Deliveroo about your diagnosis will be counted as the first day.
Deliveroo's reply to an applicant on 14/03/2022
2. foodpanda COVID-19 Financial Support Program
Q: What kind of support will foodpanda provide if I am confirmed with Covid-19?
A: If you have attended at least 20 shifts within the 2 months prior to the date of confirmation of Covid-19, and you were confirmed with COVID-19 on or after 20/03/2022, you are eligible for claiming up to EUR$250 (~HKD$2,000) COVID-19 Financial Support.
Q: How to make a claim?
A: You can submit a claim by sending a ticket. For the procedure, please refer to the following picture:
Source: foodpanda website
Information you need to provide include:
the authority that issues medical certificate/quarantine notice
the contact number/email of the authority that issues medical certificate/quarantine notice
For more details, please refer to foodpanda's insurance website.
Please kindly note that, once you submit the claim, foodpanda will temporally suspend your account and reactivate it when you provide the negative result.
Q: When should I make a claim?
A: The application must be submitted before July 17, 2022.
If the confirmed date of COVID-19 is on or after 6/5/2022, you must file a claim within 30 days after you are confirmed with Covid-19.
Q: When will I get the compensation?
A: It is not sure. The company did not disclose the detail.
Q: If I report my case to foodpanda, will foodpanda freeze my batch?
A: Yes. foodpanda will temporarily suspend your account, cancel your shifts, and freeze your batch until you have recovered.
Q: When will foodpanda reactivate my account?
A: foodpanda will reactivate your account when you provide the negative results via tickets. In its reply to HK01 reporter’s question, foodpanda stated that it may take an average of one to two working days for the company to reactivate the account.
3. Government's One-off Ex-gratia Cash Allowance
Q: Is there any financial support scheme provided by the government?
A: Yes, couriers that have been hospitalized in public hospitals may also apply for the cash allowance offered by the Social Welfare Department. The allowance grants a one-off payment of HK$5,000 to every eligible applicant, based on 2 main eligibility criteria:
Hong Kong residents who are confirmed by the Department of Health to have contracted COVID-19 locally on or after 22 November 2020; and
Currently employed but not entitled to paid sick leave or self-employed facing financial hardship whilst being hospitalized in public hospitals for COVID-19 treatment.
Applicants are NOT required to undergo any specific means test.
For the application procedure, please refer to HKSAR Social Welfare Department’s website.
4. Other resources
• Diocesan Pastoral Centre For Workers' guideline: If you are tested positive or preliminarily positive for Covid-19, what should you do?
The Ethnic Minority Team from the registered NGO Health in Action provides support to diagnosed patients at home. If you have questions on medicines or health, you can contact Community Pharmacist:
WhatsApp: 6618 9212
Tel: 3612 9515
Acknowledgment: Some brothers and sisters shared their application experiences with us when we collected related information. The Concern Group is very grateful for their help!
About the Riders’ Rights Concern Group
We are a labour rights group dedicated to serving all the food delivery workers in Hong Kong. We are under the supervision of Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee.
Our work includes:
Casework: provide counselling and support case by case (occupational injury, contract termination, discrimination, etc.)
Action: unite the workers to strive for decent work and dignity
Advocacy: advocate to the government and food delivery companies for better protection of labour rights
Facebook: @RiderRightsConcernGroup
Email: RiderConcernGroup@protonmail.com
WhatsApp: 9199 2809 (10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday)