Gig workers' strike: Telangana govt calls for emergency meeting

The Telangana Labour Department called an emergency meeting with platforms like Ola, Uber, and Swiggy to avert an indefinite strike by gig workers starting August 8. Unions demand better pay, welfare, and implementation of worker protection laws.

The Telangana Labour Department has convened an emergency joint conciliation meeting with major platform companies ahead of an indefinite strike called by gig and platform workers from August 8.

The meeting comes after representations submitted by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and Telangana App-Based Drivers Forum (TADF). Management representatives of Ola, Uber, Rapido, Porter, Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit and other platform companies have been directed to attend with authorised representatives and relevant records According to TGPWU Founder President Shaik Salauddin, this is the final government-level conciliation meeting before the indefinite strike. The outcome is expected to decide the next course of action for lakhs of gig, platform, app-based cab, auto and delivery workers across Telangana.

Workers Outline Key Demands

The workers' unions have raised long-pending demands related to wages, welfare and working conditions. The TGPWU President had called for the removal of the 10-minute delivery option from all platforms and the reinstatement of the previous payout structure.

Speaking to ANI on July 22, TGPWU President had set three demands of the gig workers. "First, we are asking for fares to be increased immediately because, despite submitting multiple representations to both the government and platform companies over time, no one has listened...second, we are asking for something very important: although the Gig and Platform Workers Act was passed, the rules and the board itself have not been implemented, so we demand that the board and its rules be implemented immediately. Third, we are asking for the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines of 2020 and 2025--which have not been implemented by the state government--to be implemented right away, while taking suggestions and feedback through stakeholder meetings with unions...we do not accept white number plate four-wheelers or two-wheelers being used for commercial rides," he said. (ANI)

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