In a resolute effort to advocate for their rights and push for organized labor laws, cab and rickshaw drivers, along with delivery personnel associated with prominent service sector companies including Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, and Urban Company, announced a strike in Pune on Wednesday, October 25. The strike, orchestrated by the ‘Indian Gig Workers Front’ committee, seeks to address a multitude of demands expressed by these workers.
Their primary objective is to urge the Maharashtra government to enact legislation that safeguards gig workers from exploitation and guarantees them social security and welfare benefits.
Keshav Kshirsagar, a member of the “Indian Gig Workers Front” committee, stressed the necessity for Maharashtra to implement a law similar to the “Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Act, 2023.” This act, enacted in Rajasthan, has played a pivotal role in safeguarding the rights of gig workers in that state.
The proposed legislation aims to establish essential social security measures and benefits for gig workers, including the creation of a “Platform-Based Gig Workers Fund and Welfare Fee.” This fund is designed to generate resources to support the social security and welfare of gig workers.
The workers are also demanding robust support systems during their shifts, a fair investigative process before imposing penalties, and the reinstatement of previous charge structures for their services. Rickshaw pullers are advocating for an immediate halt to platform fees and the calculation of waiting fees based on meters, aiming to bridge the affordability gap between cab and rickshaw services.
