Amazon Warehouse Workers in Pune, Mumbai Strike Against Unmet Wage and Benefit Agreements
Amazon Warehouse Workers in Pune, Mumbai Strike Against Unmet Wage and Benefit Agreements
Pune, February 10, 2025: Warehouse workers at Amazon facilities in Pune and Mumbai have launched a strike today, protesting the company’s failure to implement a previously signed agreement. Organized by the Hamal Panchayat, the protest stems from Amazon’s non-compliance with commitments made under the Mathadi system, despite an agreement signed three months ago.
The striking workers, employed through Amazon’s contractor Vaishali Transcarriers, have long faced issues such as low wages and a lack of social security benefits. Following repeated interventions by the Hamal Panchayat and the Maharashtra State Labour Department, an agreement was reached to address their concerns. However, with no action taken in the past three months, workers say they have been left with no option but to resort to protest.
“The company has ignored the workers’ legitimate demands even after signing an agreement. This continuous disregard has forced the workers to take this step,” said Chandan Kumar, the protest coordinator.
Broader Issues in the Gig Economy
The unrest among Amazon’s warehouse workers highlights a larger issue of worker exploitation in India’s expanding gig economy. With the rise of online service platforms, the number of gig workers has grown significantly. According to NITI Aayog, India currently has around 8 million gig workers, a figure projected to reach 23.5 million by 2029-30.
Despite their increasing presence, gig workers remain largely unrecognized under labor laws, lacking essential legal protections and social security. While companies continue to benefit from their services, government support has been limited. In a step toward addressing this gap, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently announced formal recognition for gig workers in the latest Union Budget.
The Amazon warehouse workers’ strike underscores the urgent need for stronger labor protections and fair employment practices in India’s evolving workforce landscape.
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