Rajya Sabha MPs Manoj Kumar Jha, Raghav Chadha urge PM intervention as gig workers intensify nationwide strike
Parliamentarian Manoj Kumar Jha, a member of the consultative committee for the ministry of agriculture and farmers' welfare, addressed the issue of gig workers in a letter to the Prime Minister, asking him to intervene in the matter.
In the letter posted on X, Jha said that the nationwide protests by gig workers on Christmas and New Year’s Eve were not the result of any sudden provocation but rather a natural response to long-standing exploitation and the erosion of basic labour rights.
Earlier today, Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha also posted a video about the gig workers’ strike and encouraged platforms to engage in dialogue and offer fair solutions.
In another post, Chadha shared photographs of his interaction with gig workers in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar, highlighting their grievances around fair pay, humane working conditions, dignity at work, and access to social security.
“This protest was not about disruption, but about being heard. I stand with them in solidarity. I hope the management of platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy, Zomato, etc., listens and engages sincerely,” he wrote.
Listing the demands to the Prime Minister, Jha, also a member of the standing committee on petroleum and natural gas, outlined the following considerations.
Algorithmic management systems should be regulated to ensure transparency, non-discrimination, and accountability. Gig workers should be given the right to form unions and engage in collective bargaining without fear and retaliation.
Jha argued that incidents like arbitrary ID blocking, penalties, and threats of deactivation are attacks on the gig workers' constitutional rights to express dissent.
The letter laid out flaws in the "10-minute delivery" model, highlighting that it offers inadequate safety measures for gig workers, including unpredictable working hours, lack of transparent payment structures and unsafe working conditions such as risks of road accidents, health hazards, physical strain, etc.
He also criticised the quick commerce model and called out the larger implications for individuals and society, stating that it "normalises consumer impatience," adding that younger generations are most impacted.
The development comes as quick commerce and food delivery riders kicked off their planned pan-India strike from Hyderabad on Wednesday, according to Shaik Salauddin, president, Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU). PTI reported that workers of various app-based delivery services from Mumbai and Maharashtra are also likely to participate in the nationwide strike.
ET reported that about 170,000 last-mile delivery personnel have confirmed to gig workers’ unions that they will be joining strikes planned for December 31 across various parts of the country. On Christmas Day, about 40,000 riders across the country took part in strikes and bike rallies, which led to 50-60% of orders being delayed.
Soon after, quick commerce and food delivery platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, and Bigbasket rolled out additional incentives and advertised better earning opportunities to keep last-mile personnel online on December 31.
Videos made by Swiggy and Zomato circulating in delivery workers’ WhatsApp groups claim incentives of up to Rs 10,000 are up for grabs if they remain online on December 31. Instamart claims riders can earn up to Rs 2,000 between 7 pm and 11 pm. Zepto is offering an additional incentive of Rs 25 per order, over and above the Rs 15-20 it pays on regular days, according to a rider, besides bulk incentives for fulfilling a higher number of orders.
Also Read: ETtech Explainer: How gig workers’ strike on New Year's Eve could hit q-comm & food delivery
In the letter posted on X, Jha said that the nationwide protests by gig workers on Christmas and New Year’s Eve were not the result of any sudden provocation but rather a natural response to long-standing exploitation and the erosion of basic labour rights.
Earlier today, Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha also posted a video about the gig workers’ strike and encouraged platforms to engage in dialogue and offer fair solutions.
In another post, Chadha shared photographs of his interaction with gig workers in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar, highlighting their grievances around fair pay, humane working conditions, dignity at work, and access to social security.
“This protest was not about disruption, but about being heard. I stand with them in solidarity. I hope the management of platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy, Zomato, etc., listens and engages sincerely,” he wrote.
Listing the demands to the Prime Minister, Jha, also a member of the standing committee on petroleum and natural gas, outlined the following considerations.
- Legal recognition of gig workers with employment rights. Platform companies are to be regulated under labour laws.
- The 10-minute delivery model should be prohibited due to safety concerns for workers.
- Arbitrary ID blocking and penalties should be stopped, and the right to appeal should be ensured.
- A fair and transparent wage structure should be put in place, with a guaranteed minimum income linked to working hours and actual costs.
- Social security for gig workers should be ensured, including health insurance, accident insurance, disability benefits, and old-age pensions.
Jha argued that incidents like arbitrary ID blocking, penalties, and threats of deactivation are attacks on the gig workers' constitutional rights to express dissent.
The letter laid out flaws in the "10-minute delivery" model, highlighting that it offers inadequate safety measures for gig workers, including unpredictable working hours, lack of transparent payment structures and unsafe working conditions such as risks of road accidents, health hazards, physical strain, etc.
He also criticised the quick commerce model and called out the larger implications for individuals and society, stating that it "normalises consumer impatience," adding that younger generations are most impacted.
The development comes as quick commerce and food delivery riders kicked off their planned pan-India strike from Hyderabad on Wednesday, according to Shaik Salauddin, president, Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU). PTI reported that workers of various app-based delivery services from Mumbai and Maharashtra are also likely to participate in the nationwide strike.
ET reported that about 170,000 last-mile delivery personnel have confirmed to gig workers’ unions that they will be joining strikes planned for December 31 across various parts of the country. On Christmas Day, about 40,000 riders across the country took part in strikes and bike rallies, which led to 50-60% of orders being delayed.
Soon after, quick commerce and food delivery platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, and Bigbasket rolled out additional incentives and advertised better earning opportunities to keep last-mile personnel online on December 31.
Videos made by Swiggy and Zomato circulating in delivery workers’ WhatsApp groups claim incentives of up to Rs 10,000 are up for grabs if they remain online on December 31. Instamart claims riders can earn up to Rs 2,000 between 7 pm and 11 pm. Zepto is offering an additional incentive of Rs 25 per order, over and above the Rs 15-20 it pays on regular days, according to a rider, besides bulk incentives for fulfilling a higher number of orders.
Also Read: ETtech Explainer: How gig workers’ strike on New Year's Eve could hit q-comm & food delivery
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