Those on strike don't represent the majority: Uber India President

The past few weeks haven't been great for riders in Bengaluru, wherein Uber is a significantly popular mode of transport. Last month, over a lakh Uber and Ola drivers began an indefinite strike in Bengaluru. Drivers demanded better incentives and also a stop to new cars being attached to app-based cab aggregators in the city. Some protesters even ransacked an Uber office as well. Some Uber taxis were halted and passengers were asked to opt for an auto instead, forcing the driver to join the strike.

Essentially, the cabs which were still plying were either scared to accept a duty or they are simply requesting passengers to cancel the booking. These are the drivers who cannot afford to go off the road as they earn their daily bread after driving throughout the day.

Amit Jain, President, Uber India & South Asia on driving with Uber in India, in a blogpost, has spoken about the strike, incentives and the efforts needed to strike a balance to benefit drivers as well as passengers.

"I want to say on behalf of the team at Uber in India, we are sorry for the disruption that both riders and drivers who rely on Uber have experienced over the last few weeks. It has been a difficult time, and we are grateful for the strong support we’ve received from riders and drivers across the country, and to the courts and law enforcement in condemning the use of violence and intimidation," he said.

He emphasised how the small number of protesters do not represent the majority driver community. He even answered questions like how much drivers earn and the associated incentives. "80% of drivers across India who are online for more than six hours a day make between ₹1,500 and ₹2,500 net, after Uber’s service fee." They also earn from incentives, which is a certain amount after a preset number of trips are achieved.

He has also listed out reasons why few drivers earn more and other less. The former includes prioritising driving at peak hours, not rejecting rides and driving the entire city. The latter includes frequently rejecting rides, driving in specific areas and for shorter duration.