uber will give 178 million USD compensation to australian taxi drivers Know why

App-based taxi provider company Uber will pay US $ 178 million (about Rs 14,75,99,73,600) as compensation to taxi drivers in Australia. The drivers’ lawyers informed on Monday that they won the case after a long and difficult legal battle. More than 8 thousand taxi drivers and car owners joined together to start legal action in 2019, saying that they had suffered a lot since Uber arrived in Australia in 2012.

Lead lawyer Michael Donnelly said the AU$271.8 million settlement was the fifth largest class action legal settlement in Australian legal history. “Uber fought tooth and nail every time, every day, for 5 years, trying every way possible to get our group members any help or compensation they could for their losses,” said Donnelly, from legal firm Maurice Blackburn.

Thousands of Australians have banded together to take on the global taxi giant and fight to recover the losses they have suffered over the years. Lawyers allege Uber committed a series of shocking actions when it arrived in the country, including using unlicensed cars with unlicensed drivers.

Taxi driver Nick Andrianakis told reporters that he was forced to shut down his 40-year-old taxi business when Uber arrived in the country. “I lost my passion for work and I lost the income that fed my family,” he said.

Uber said it was inappropriate to comment on the settlement until it had been signed in court. “When Uber arrived more than a decade ago ridesharing regulations did not exist anywhere in the world, let alone in Australia. “Today is different and Uber is now in every state and territory across Australia and governments recognise us as a vital part of the country’s transport.” The $157 billion US company said it had made a significant contribution to Australia’s taxi compensation schemes.