Gig Workers Unite: Flash Strike for Fair Wages and National Worker Policy

The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) on Thursday carried out a nationwide flash strike, demanding better wages and a comprehensive national policy for gig and platform workers. 

Protests were reported from major cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, with nearly 40,000 workers participating, reflecting growing unrest among India’s nearly one crore platform workers.

Delivery workers associated with major e-commerce and food delivery platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon and Flipkart took part in the action. In Hyderabad, over 2,000 workers joined a bike rally at Gachibowli–Kondapur as part of the protest.

The strike was organised to highlight deteriorating working conditions in the gig and platform economy, including falling incomes, excessive working hours, unsafe delivery targets such as “10-minute delivery” models, arbitrary ID blocking, lack of job security and the absence of basic welfare protections. 

Workers said that unchecked algorithmic control by platform companies has pushed them into deep economic insecurity, shifting all risks onto workers while companies continue to profit.

Among the key demands raised during the strike were fair and transparent wage structures, the immediate withdrawal of unsafe delivery models, an end to arbitrary penalties without due process, improved safety gear and accident insurance, assured work allocation without algorithmic discrimination, humane working hours with mandatory rest breaks, stronger grievance redressal mechanisms, and comprehensive social security including health insurance, accident coverage and pension benefits.

Calling for government intervention, the workers urged both the Centre and state governments to regulate platform companies, enforce labour protections, implement social security frameworks for gig and platform workers, and recognise their right to organise and collectively bargain.

Shaik Salauddin, Founder President of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and Co-Founder and National General Secretary of IFAT, said, “Delivery workers are being pushed to the breaking point by unsafe work models, falling incomes, and the total absence of social protection. This strike was a collective call for justice, dignity, and accountability. The government can no longer remain a silent spectator while platform companies profit at the cost of workers’ lives.”

TGPWU and IFAT also appealed to citizens, civil society organisations, trade unions and the media to stand in solidarity with delivery workers and support their continuing struggle for fair, safe and dignified work.

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