Calling gig workers the invisible wheels of the Indian economy, the Rajya Sabha member notes that these workers deserve dignity, protection and fair pay
Shedding light on the ‘pain and misery’ of India’s gig workers, Raghav Chadha, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha member, has demanded regulations on quick commerce and app-based delivery and service businesses, in favour of gig workers.
While speaking in Parliament, the MP pointed out that although the official definition refers to them as gig workers, he calls them the invisible wheels of the Indian economy. He noted that these workers deserve dignity, protection and fair pay.
“I am speaking about the delivery boys of Swiggy and Zomato, drivers of Ola and Uber, riders of Blinkit and Zepto, plumbers and beauticians of Urban Company. Today, many ecommerce, Insta-delivery apps and companies have upped their valuations and become unicorns, but the conditions of these gig workers are worse off than daily wage labourers,” he added.
The Rajya Sabha member pointed out the concerning trend of ten-minute deliveries, stating that it pushes riders to overspeed, jump red lights and put lives in danger. He added that these workers are not robots, and are someone’s father, brother, husband and son. “The House should think about them and put an end to the ten-minute delivery cruelty,” he noted.
Earlier, MoS Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje informed Parliament that a committee comprising representatives from various stakeholders has been constituted to suggest a framework for providing social security and welfare benefits to gig and platform workers.
The minister also apprised the Parliament that the Ministry of Labour and Employment has issued an advisory to aggregators to register themselves and platform workers engaged with them on the e-Shram portal.
Gig workers and platform workers have been defined for the first time in the Code on Social Security 2020, which has been enacted by the Parliament. Social Security and Welfare related provisions for the gig and platform workers have been mentioned in the Code.
