Uber teams up with UN to create 1 million jobs for women by 2020
Driving for the firm offers ‘flexibility and optionality that are particularly attractive for women, says Uber
New York: Uber Technologies Inc. said it will create 1 million jobs for women within the next five years in a partnership with the United Nations aimed at advancing gender equality.
The alliance with UN Women also marks the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration on women’s rights and economic empowerment, the San Francisco-based company said in a blog Tuesday.
Driving for Uber offers “flexibility and optionality that are particularly attractive for women," Salle Yoo, Uber’s general counsel, said in an interview.
The car-booking company, co-founded in 2009 by Travis Kalanick and Garret Camp, has expanded quickly to almost 300 cities in 54 countries, even as it encounters regulatory hurdles and protests by taxi and limousine drivers worldwide. Uber has raised almost $6 billion in equity and debt financing to date, reaching a valuation of $40 billion, the highest for a US startup.
Uber counts 160,000 active drivers in the US, and given that only 14% of those drivers are women, “there is still room to grow," Yoo said.
The initiative with the UN may also help to address concerns over the safety of Uber’s services, following recent assault cases in Boston and in India, where the company recently introduced an SOS button for users to call for police in an emergency.
“Safety is our top priority," Yoo said.
The Uber mobile application’s features, including cashless transactions and ability to track users and drivers, contribute to passengers’ safety, she said. The SOS button, now available only in India, may also be rolled out in other markets, Yoo said. Bloomberg
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!