Pune's Cab Drivers and Food Delivery Workers Prepare for Strike, Demand For Fair Laws

In Pune, cab and rickshaw drivers, along with delivery personnel working for popular service sector companies such as Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, and Urban Company, are gearing up for a strike scheduled for Thursday, October 25. The primary objective of this strike is to push for enhanced worker protection measures, akin to those already implemented in Rajasthan, and to advocate for the establishment of social security and welfare benefits for gig workers.

Their demand stems from the existing 'Social Code 2020' Labour Code laid out by the Central Government and the 'Registration and Welfare Act' already enacted in Rajasthan. These legislative frameworks have set a precedent for ensuring the welfare and protection of gig workers, making Rajasthan the pioneering state in India to regulate and support the expanding gig economy workforce under a comprehensive legal framework, referred to as the Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Act, 2023.

According to Adv Keshav Kshirsagar, a member of the association, the objective is to replicate these protective measures in Maharashtra to safeguard the interests of gig workers in the region. The Act aims to deliver crucial social security measures and essential benefits to the working class, presenting an opportunity for job security for numerous unemployed individuals, including the elderly. The Act further establishes labor guarantees for workers employed through platform-based services like Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Urban Company, and similar platforms.

One notable provision of the Act is the issuance of a unique identity card for each gig worker, streamlining their employment status and access to benefits. Additionally, the Act facilitates the creation of the 'Platform-Based Gig Workers Fund and Welfare Fee,' which will be instrumental in raising funds dedicated to the social security and welfare of gig workers.