Amid the ongoing tensions between consumer platforms and their gig workers, Delhi-based Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) has called for a nationwide strike today.
As part of this, it has called on gig and platform service workers to switch off their respective apps today. The Union said that this “online” protest will be followed by nationwide physical protests on February 3.
It is protesting against what it calls systemic exploitation and insecurity in the platform economy. It is demanding formal recognition of workers and the enactment of a comprehensive Central law governing gig and platform work.
The GIPSWU flagged persistent issues such as arbitrary ID blocking, “opaque and unfair” rating systems, income insecurity, unilateral changes in work policies, and the absence of effective grievance redressal mechanisms.
The Union highlighted that women workers face heightened vulnerabilities, including safety risks, lack of legal protection, and harassment. It alleged that workers who raise grievances or participate in protests are often threatened with or subjected to ID blocking, effectively cutting off their livelihoods.
“ID blocking has become a tool to silence workers, and the continued inaction of the government reflects a disregard for our dignity, safety, and constitutional rights,” the Union said.
Despite repeated representations to the labour and employment ministry, the Union said these concerns remain unaddressed. It also criticised the government on the recent move by quick commerce platforms to stop advertising 10-minute deliveries, stating that no written order or notification has been made public.
While no official communication has been made by the Centre on the aforementioned issue, a majority of the quick commerce platforms have already dropped the 10-minute delivery promise tag. Blinkit, which is the largest quick commerce player, was the first to update its tagline, which now says “10,000+ products delivered to your doorstep”, instead of promising delivery within 10 minutes.
Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha, who has been in communication with the central government on this issue, recently met Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
On the regulatory front, the central government recently proposed a minimum 90-day work requirement for gig workers to access certain employee benefits. The change is part of fresh draft rules under the Social Security Code, which add on to the labour ministry’s bid to overhaul labour and social security rules to safeguard the interests of gig workers.
The latest development comes after the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union called for a nationwide strike of gig workers on December 25 and 31 last year. However, Eternal and Swiggy then said that they delivered record orders on New Year’s Eve.
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