[By Sreshta Ladegaam]
In January 2023, Mohammed Rizwan tragically lost his life while attempting to deliver an order for Swiggy in Hyderabad, Telangana. Swiggy is one of India’s largest food and grocery delivery platforms. Rizwan was attacked by a customer’s pet dog, prompting him to jump off a building to protect himself. His family is yet to receive any compensation from Swiggy.
In May 2023, a driver with the ride-hailing app, Uber, was assaulted by security staff at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, leading to a complete shutdown of ride-hailing services near the airport for the next 48 hours.
Gig and platform workers in India live in a state of precarity, facing threats to their lives and livelihoods as they navigate dangerous circumstances every day. As they are not recognized as employees but referred to as “partners,” platforms evade their responsibility to provide them with job security and fair compensation. Consequently, workers are denied essential employment benefits, and even the minimum wage necessary for their survival.
A Swiggy Delivery Executive. Credit: TGPWU
For the past five years, we have witnessed unprecedented growth in the gig economy. According to a recent report by NITI Aayog, the gig workforce in India is projected to surge to 2.35 crore by 2029-30, a substantial rise from 77 lakh recorded in 2020-21. In Telangana alone, it is estimated that currently, 4.5 lakh partners are working for various aggregators like Uber, Ola, Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Urban Company, Amazon, Dunzo, and more.
The growing reliance of urban residents in India on platforms and platform-based work has prompted aggregators to extend their services, often making exaggerated claims such as 10-minute grocery delivery. These unrealistic expectations place delivery executives at risk and result in excessive workloads. While many of these companies initially held promising prospects for workers, the landscape has significantly changed over the years. Factors such as intense competition, the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent financial crisis, and rising fuel prices have all taken a toll on app-based workers.
Aggregators in India have been accused of being involved in numerous unethical practices. In recent years, a large number of gig workers alleged that their IDs were unjustifiably blocked without clear explanations. Earlier this year, delivery partners associated with Blinkit took part in a nationwide strike in response to the unusual reduction in their delivery fees. Many drivers associated with ride-sharing platforms have reported being in debt. This points to the need for gig economy workers to establish unions as avenues for collective bargaining to improve their working conditions and secure fair treatment in the face of exploitative practices.
Organizing workers in the gig economy comes with further challenges, given the unconventional work environment that often isolates them from one another. The limited application of labor laws to their unique circumstances further complicates their cause. The aggregators exert heavy influence, actively discouraging employee mobilization, and resorting to coercive measures. There have been documented instances where partners engaged in protests have faced severe measures such as being locked out of their accounts. Additionally, workers receive targeted messages aiming to dissuade them from joining demonstrations or expressing grievances against the aggregators.
Initially, app-based workers in Telangana operated without coordination, making it easier for aggregators to dismiss their protests and demonstrations. Recognizing the need for a unified platform, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU) emerged to bring together gig workers from various aggregators under one platform, setting an example for solidarity and collective action.
The TGPWU logo. Credit: TGPWU
TGPWU has garnered significant attention for its proactive efforts to unite gig workers in Telangana. Shaik Salauddin, the founding member and President, hopes that this initiative serves as a pilot project, showcasing the potential for similar endeavors in other states across the country.
Salauddin, who has experience with various past and present Four-wheeler Drivers Associations and the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT), says, “While IFAT began as a pan-India project, we started the work for TGPWU in parallel. The Telangana movement influenced me to bring all the workers in the state under one platform.”
TGPWU started its operations in 2019 and was officially registered under the Indian Trade Union Act in 2022. A significant part of TGPWU’s organizing efforts takes place online as they use WhatsApp and Telegram groups for daily communication. These groups serve as crucial channels for workers to connect, share information, and find solutions to their common challenges, and are referred to as the Union’s ‘walkie-talkies.’ Looking ahead, TGPWU plans to launch a helpline to address worker issues promptly and provide emergency support.
With the help of volunteers, the Union has set up an office space in Hyderabad’s Amberpet, equipped with computer systems, and maintains a website to document their work and the needs of app-based workers. TGPWU also leverages social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to engage with their customer base directly, raise awareness about gig worker issues, and highlight exploitative practices by companies.
TGPWU and IFAT organize social media training programs for gig workers. The training aims to empower workers with the digital skills to voice their concerns and advocate for their rights on various social media platforms. By enhancing their online presence, the Union hopes to amplify the collective voice of delivery workers and raise awareness about their challenges in the gig economy. The training program intends to equip these workers with the tools to navigate social media effectively and engage with a wider audience to garner support for their cause.
Salauddin highlights a major issue faced by gig workers regarding pricing on popular platforms like Uber and Ola. He describes a recent incident where a 66-kilometer ride was charged a meager Rs 334, a fraction of what it should have been. Despite presenting concrete evidence, these companies dismiss workers’ grievances, leaving them questioning the decision-making process behind the rate card. “All I ask is who decides the rate card?” asks Salauddin. “I believe allowing companies to unilaterally set prices severely affects workers,” he adds.
Shaik Salauddin explaining Uber’s pricing. Credit: Anjney Mital
Shifting the focus to delivery workers, Salauddin reveals the unfortunate decline in their earnings. Before the pandemic, they would earn approximately Rs. 30 to 35 per delivery, but now that figure has plummeted to a mere Rs. 20. The reduction in partner fee by Blinkit to Rs. 15 sparked nationwide protests, with the TGPWU actively participating. Salauddin expresses his dismay over the fact that while prices for various goods and services continue to rise worldwide, gig workers’ wages and fees experience a consistent decline. This situation highlights the urgent need for fair compensation and equitable treatment for gig workers.
Addressing the enigmatic nature of the algorithms, Salauddin says, “We do not know how the algorithm works. But we know some things like surge pricing, and how a delivery or pickup is assigned, and how fare is calculated.” The Union organizes comprehensive training sessions designed to familiarize workers with effective workaround strategies for various issues. Often conducted on platforms like Zoom, these sessions also emphasize the significance of data protection and safety. Workers are educated about app permissions, distinguishing which to grant and which to deny, ensuring their rights and privacy remain safeguarded.
Facial recognition emerges as a persistent concern across all platforms. “The apps don’t recognize you if you shave your beard or head. People are getting locked out of their accounts because of this,” says Salauddin. The training sessions provide workers with a set of instructions to follow to avert such situations like consistently updating their account photo. They are working on a ‘Deactivation campaign’ that seeks to raise awareness among local governments regarding aggregators arbitrarily blocking gig worker accounts on frivolous grounds. “They don’t let a worker work with them for more than two-three years. Maybe because we figure out how they work by then,” notes Salauddin.
The Indian government provides certain social security and welfare benefits for unorganized workers registered for e-Shram cards. However, Aadhaar has been made mandatory for registration, denying welfare to several workers. Voicing the Union’s stance on the mandatory Aadhaar linkage, Salauddin firmly states, “We do not support it.”
During the training sessions, workers are discouraged from linking Aadhaar and are meticulously informed about the associated data safety concerns. Furthermore, they are encouraged to utilize alternatives such as driver’s licenses or voter IDs whenever identification is required, mitigating the potential risks and vulnerabilities posed by Aadhaar.
Regarding Union membership, Salauddin acknowledges the limited representation of women within their ranks, expressing the need to expand outreach efforts to include more women. While the number of women cab drivers or delivery executives remains low due to various challenges, including bias and restrictions, there is a notable presence of women engaged in beauty gig work through platforms like Urban Company. “We aspire to broaden our reach and actively encourage greater participation of women in the Union. We are already witnessing a positive response from women who are joining our training sessions,” added Salauddin.
TGPWU has been actively collaborating with private entities and corporate social responsibility initiatives to offer affordable health insurance to its members and scholarships for their children. Their support extends to helping workers navigate insurance claims, assisting in the recovery of lease vehicles, advocating for compensation for partners who lost their lives, conducting road safety sessions, and providing assistance in various other ways.
The Union’s work has been noticed by governments across the country. They have been consulted by the state governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Kerala to address the challenges faced by gig workers.
TGPWU was instrumental in the Rajasthan government’s ‘Rajasthan Platform-based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023,’ which aims to provide comprehensive protection and benefits to platform-based gig workers, particularly in terms of minimum wages and insurance coverage, and establish a welfare board to draft policies and address the grievances of gig workers in the state. The draft bill emphasizes the need for gig workers to be registered with the state government, ensuring their recognition and inclusion in the formal labor framework. This registration process would enable workers to access various welfare measures and entitlements guaranteed by the bill. TGPWU is hopeful that this could push other states, possibly the union government as well, to do the same.
Addressing Telangana Minister K. T Rama Rao’s comments on gig workers, Salauddin expresses his hope for collaboration with the state government to explore legislation akin to the Rajasthan bill in Telangana, thereby extending crucial protections to gig workers in the state.
The rise of the gig economy has brought about significant changes in the way people work and earn a living. While it offers flexibility and opportunities for many, it also exposes workers to several vulnerabilities. TGPWU’s work sheds light on the exploitation and unfair practices prevalent in the industry and paved the way for important conversations on the future of gig work. It has also resulted in meaningful change through legislation as seen in Rajasthan’s draft bill. As the gig economy continues to grow and evolve, it is essential for governments and aggregators to collectively work with unions and ensure a fair and equitable future for workers.
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