From app to activism: Telangana’s gig and platform workers demand change

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of platforms and aggregator apps offering gig work has multiplied. While only two or three ride-hailing apps existed before 2019, almost a dozen operate today. As competition among these apps intensifies, companies introduce lower rates per booking, leading to a steady decline in wages for gig and platform workers like me.

The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union has executed several campaigns and strikes in the last few years to combat this. In 2023, we launched the ‘No AC campaign‘ in Hyderabad. During heat stress, running air conditioning in cars significantly increased our operational costs, which were already difficult to cover due to meagre earnings from ride-hailing apps. Left with no other option, we started driving the cabs without air conditioning. The campaign was successful, catching the attention of both our customers as well as the aggregator apps. Eventually, our fares were increased slightly on some of the apps. But platforms need to recognise extreme weather conditions and provide fair compensation during heat stress. 

In order to safeguard workers’ interests, the union has been advocating for legislation that supports the welfare of gig and platform workers. We have proposed the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers (Rights and Welfare) Bill, which calls for a unique identification system for gig and platform workers, minimum wages, uniform fares, and a mechanism to raise complaints, among other provisions.

To ensure that our needs are heard and acted upon, the union has been in continuous dialogue with government bodies and other stakeholders. After a four-year-long struggle, we were able to work with the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad to introduce free parking, washrooms, and rest stops for cab drivers. As the gig and platform economy continues to grow, we want to make sure that both the government and private companies act in our best interests.

Despite these efforts, we continue to grapple with extremely low fares. What we could earn in six hours before the pandemic is now impossible to make even in 15 hours. Recently, we kicked off a new campaign where we text customers to let them know that we cannot accept the ride because of low fares and suggest that they try another ride-hailing app. Often, the customers tell us that they’re willing to pay extra. But we don’t want additional payments from customers; we want companies and aggregator apps to set uniform rates. This would ensure stable wages and prevent rates from falling during non-peak hours.

Aggregator apps are currently only concerned with acquiring as many customers as they can from their competitors. It doesn’t matter if this comes at the cost of gig and platform workers. Our union wants to change this.

Mohd Abdul Mazhar Afsar is part of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union.

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