Gig workers write to NHRC demanding paid vacation and health benefits

Hyderabad: Gig and platform workers, who form the backbone of India’s digital economy, continue to face challenges that threaten their rights, well-being and dignity.

To address these concerns, Shaik Salauddin, founding president of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and national general secretary of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), has called on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to take immediate action.

In a detailed presentation, according to a press release, he pointed out the lack of legal recognition of these workers, which left them without protections such as minimum wages and social security.

This lack of protections has become an economic sweatshop, with opaque algorithms and high commission fees reducing their revenue. Additionally, unsafe work environments and gender disparities, particularly for women in the industry, exacerbate the conditions in which they work.

Recommendations include passing legislation to classify gig workers as a separate work category, ensuring algorithmic transparency and providing essential benefits such as paid leave, health insurance and emergency financial assistance.

To address safety concerns, measures such as mandatory training, protective equipment and access to health resources have been proposed. The representation also advocates empowering workers through unionization and collective bargaining, as well as the establishment of independent grievance redressal mechanisms. To collectively address these issues, a tripartite committee comprising NHRC, employee unions and aggregator companies has been proposed.

Salauddin stated: “It is imperative to protect the dignity and rights of gig and platform workers, who are an integral part of India’s economic framework.” We urge the NHRC to take a leadership role in championing these recommendations and their To ensure implementation at both the state and national levels.”

The appeal also calls for India’s labor policies to be aligned with global standards to create an inclusive and equitable economy that respects the contributions of these workers.