New Delhi — Gig and platform workers across India have declared an all-India strike planned in the New Year’s Day, which falls on December 31 and delivery executives, drivers of ride-hail and home-service employees preparing to shut down services against what they say are dangerous working conditions and insufficient pay, unjust “algorithmic discrimination” and a lack of social security safeguards. It is a strike which comes after the flash protests that took place on Christmas Day, is likely to cause massive disruptions to grocery, food and parcel deliveries in one of the busiest times in the calendar.

Organizations representing workers in the gig economy including those from the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) and the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) — stated that the New Year’s Eve celebration is an effort in concert to pressure the government as well as major platform companies to comply with the demands of a six-point chart. The participants include employees of large delivery or service companies like Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon and Flipkart.

Safety Concerns and Worker Demands

The unions have proposed several demands that focus on safety of workers, wages as well as social security and employment fairness and the operational practices they claim puts workers at risk

• Removing the “10-minute delivery” business model that they claim makes riders take uninformed risks to achieve impossible delivery targets.
• Honest and transparent pay structures with incentives that are aligned with the actual hours of work and operating costs.
• Guaranteed work allocation free of discrimination based on algorithms which, as workers claim, can result in uneven earnings in addition to unfair access jobs.
• Social and job security benefits which include health insurance, accident insurance and pension plans.
• More robust technical support and grievance redressal procedures to safeguard users from being subject to arbitrary account suspensions or sanctions without proper process.
• reasonable working hours, breaks, and safe working conditions especially during times of high risk such as late-night deliveries, thick winter fog.

In statements published through social media sites as well as made available to the media Union officials — such as Shaik Salauddin the general secretary of the national branch of IFAT as well as Mohammad Inayat Ali the national vice president of IFAT — have stressed that the strike is an appeal to dignity and accountability. They claim that platforms have emphasized an increase in patrons’ numbers and rapid growth and have not protected the workers who support their business.

“These workers are now the foundation of delivery last mile in India,” Salauddin said in a statement that was posted on social networks. “Despite their contributions particularly during the peak season and holidays They are also forced to work long hours with no basic protections for their welfare.”

The impact from the Christmas Strike

The scheduled New Year’s Eve protest follows the strike that took place on the 25th of December (Christmas Day), which was notable for the disruption of services in a few cities. For instance, in Gurugram, for instance, residents experienced long delivery delays as organized groups of delivery providers logged off their platforms, and then gathered at strategically placed locations, such as markets, transit hubs and market complexes. In certain areas, such as Badshahpur, Sohna Road and HUDA Market delivery service at December 25th, Day are reported to be operating with significantly less capacity.

Union representatives claimed that some employees faced retaliation from management of the platform following their participation during protests on Christmas Day protests — such as the deactivation of rate cards, which hindered them from taking orders made through the application.

Contrary to this, other regions in the National Capital Region, including Delhi and Noida, experienced only a small effect from the strike on December 25 which saw services continue despite sporadic protests.

Security and Welfare Issues

One of the main complaints concern one of the main issues is “10-minute delivery” model, in which delivery providers are encouraged or, in some instances, computer-driven — to complete food or grocery delivery in extremely short periods of time. Union and worker representatives argue that this system creates in unsafe driving that includes driving too fast through traffic and taking risks when roads are crowded with cars and pedestrians.

Some critics on the ultra-fast delivery system have also criticized the lack of basic welfare support such as structured insurance for accidents as well as health coverage and sufficient rest time. They claim that the risk of accident or injury is increased when workers are exposed to uncertain earnings and the possibility of deactivation of their account due to perceived poor performance.

The call for Government Regulation

In addition to accountability for corporate behavior and transparency, union leaders are pushing to both Central Government and the state governments to create regulations for platforms which include legal protections comparable to those offered to employees in employment contracts. These regulations, they say will govern pay rates and safety protocols, as well as social security contributions, and the mechanisms to allow collective bargaining.

Although there is a provision in the Code regarding Social Security 2020 contains provisions for aggregators who provide social insurance to gig employees, the union representatives claim that the implementation of these requirements has not been sufficient, with minimal impact on field on delivery drivers.

Preparedness for Year-End Activity

As the calendar year is drawing to an end and gig workers’ organizations have suggested they believe that New Year’s Eve’s protest could be more inclusive and cause more severe disruptions than the Christmas Day action. Delivery workers and other related sectors have shared plans for staged offs and coordinated log-outs on platforms, which may impact the availability of grocery and food delivery, ride-hail services, and home service requests.

Platform companies haven’t publically disclosed operational contingencies as a result of the strike planned as of the date of this report.

Context of Broader

The dispute is a result of long-running tensions in India’s gig economy which has millions of workers operating as independent contractors in flexible, app-based contracts instead of official employment contracts. Some critics against the system say that the arrangement does not provide workers with legal protections that are available to employees in traditional employment, such as minimum wage, paid leave and safety regulations for workplaces.

Unions have also emphasized the importance of acknowledging workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively, this has attracted attention from both the political and legal worlds in other countries where gig economy-based labour movement has gained momentum.