Cab drivers and delivery personnel affiliated with companies like Ola, Zomato, Swiggy, Uber, and others have announced a one-day strike scheduled for October 25, 2023. The Indian Gig Workers Front in collaboration with Indian Gig Workers Forum, are calling upon their fellow gig workers to participate in this strike as a step toward fostering a more equitable and improved working environment.
These gig workers are collectively addressing several pressing concerns, raising questions that they believe need immediate attention to improve their working conditions.
Cab drivers are primarily concerned with advocating for fixed base rates similar to rickshaw meters, seeking regulation of companies like Everest Fleet to protect the interests of common cab drivers, and preventing the unfair allocation of outstation trips to private vendors. In addition, drivers are pushing for the establishment of an efficient support system to address concerns during their shifts and highlighting the importance of a just investigative process before imposing penalties, such as blocking driver IDs or fines. They are also demanding the reinstatement of previous charges for services like pick-ups, waiting times, passenger cancellations, and night rides.
Rickshaw pullers are pushing for an immediate halt to platform fees and requesting that waiting fees be calculated similarly to meter charges. They raise concerns that while cab services have become more affordable than rickshaws on various apps, this affordability discrepancy makes it challenging for rickshaw pullers to sustain their livelihoods.
Food and parcel delivery personnel are also participating in this strike, focusing on issues such as equal and increased order rates for all delivery workers, a mechanism to address their problems, accurate distance calculations, and measures to ensure fairness when handling customer complaints or imposing fines. They insist on having access to a minimum daily wage and compensation when applicable.
These demands align with the implementation of the Maharashtra Gig Workers Act and Maharashtra Cab Aggregator Rules, which hold the potential to address around 90% of these concerns and provide additional benefits, including insurance, welfare boards, pensions, and scholarships for workers’ children.
While the protesters acknowledge that one day off won’t bring immediate change, they emphasize the importance of this collective action and call on others to participate in this effort for positive transformation in the gig economy.
