Gig Workers To Hold Strike On Saturday: Here’s What They Are Demanding
Gig Workers To Protest Over Rising Fuel Prices Today
Delivery, Cab Drivers To Log Off Apps From 12 PM To 5 PM; Demand Better Per-Km Pay
App-based delivery workers and cab drivers across the country will stage a protest on Friday against rising petrol and diesel prices, which they say are badly affecting their earnings.
The Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) announced that workers associated with platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, Ola, Uber and Rapido will log off from apps between 12 pm and 5 pm as part of the agitation.
The union said lakhs of delivery partners and drivers depend on bikes and scooters for their daily income, but the continuous increase in fuel prices is reducing their savings and making it difficult to manage expenses.
GIPSWU has demanded that companies fix a minimum payment of Rs 20 per kilometre for gig workers. According to the union, fuel prices increase immediately, but delivery charges and driver payouts are not revised accordingly.
Union president Seema Singh said workers are already working long hours in extreme heat conditions and the additional burden of higher fuel costs has worsened their situation. She warned that the protest could intensify if companies fail to increase payments.
National coordinator Nirmal Gorana said nearly 1.2 crore gig and platform workers across food delivery, grocery delivery, logistics and cab services are affected. He added that workers themselves bear fuel, vehicle maintenance and other operational costs, directly impacting their earnings.
The union has also appealed to the government to issue guidelines asking app-based companies to revise worker payments so that the burden of rising fuel prices does not fall entirely on gig workers.
According to the union, Friday’s protest will remain peaceful and aims to draw attention to the financial struggles faced by delivery workers and drivers.
