App-Based Gig Workers’ Union Calls For 5-Hour Nationwide Shutdown

The Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) has called for a nationwide five-hour shutdown of app-based services, demanding higher kilometre-based payment rates from digital platforms and government intervention following the recent hike in petrol, diesel and LPG prices.

In a statement issued yesterday, the union appealed to gig and platform workers associated with various app-based companies to observe a temporary shutdown of services from 12 PM to 5 PM today.

Amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, including disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, oil marketing companies increased petrol and diesel prices by around ₹3 per litre yesterday, marking one of the first major nationwide fuel price hikes in nearly four years.

Following the hike, petrol prices in Delhi rose to about ₹97.77 per litre, while diesel prices climbed to ₹90.67 per litre.

Claiming that the fuel price hike would severely impact lakhs of gig workers, GIPSWU said rising fuel costs and stagnant payouts are putting further pressure on workers’ earnings.

GIPSWU president Seema Singh said rising fuel and LPG prices have increased the financial burden on gig workers, especially delivery workers associated with platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy and Blinkit amid severe heatwave conditions. 

The union is demanding a central law for gig workers and a minimum service rate of ₹20 per kilometre. It said that while fuel, maintenance and transportation costs continue to rise, platform companies have largely kept payout structures unchanged. 

Citing NITI Aayog estimates, the union said India had around 7.7 Mn gig workers in 2020-21 and the number is projected to increase to about 23.5 Mn by 2029-30. A substantial portion of these workers are associated with app-based food delivery, grocery delivery, logistics, ride-hailing and digital platform services.

In memorandums submitted to the Centre, concerned authorities, and digital platforms, GIPSWU sought immediate revision of delivery charges, increase in kilometre-based payment rates and compensation for rising fuel expenses so that the burden of increasing operational costs is not imposed entirely on workers.

The union said it submitted memorandums to platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Dunzo, Urban Company, Ola, Uber, Rapido, Porter, Amazon Flex and Instamart. 

GIPSWU said the proposed shutdown is intended to “peacefully highlight” the difficulties being faced by delivery workers, drivers and app-based service workers due to increasing operational expenses and inadequate compensation structures.

This is not the first time gig workers’ unions have called for protests against app-based platforms. In recent years, gig workers across India have organised multiple strikes and shutdowns against companies such as Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit and Zepto over issues including low pay, algorithm-based penalties and poor working conditions.

Earlier this year, GIPSWU called for a nationwide ‘online’ strike on January 26, asking workers to switch off their apps in protest against alleged exploitation, low pay and lack of legal protections for gig workers, followed by nationwide protests in February.

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