As parts of India grapple with an intense heat wave, gig workers are working across delivery (Blinkit, Swiggy, Zepto, Zomato, etc.); ride-hailing (Uber, Ola, Rapido, etc.); and home services segments (Urban Company, Snabbit, Pronto etc.) urged the Union Ministry of Labor to mandate measures to protect them from the scorching heat.
In a letter accessed by Mint, the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) urged the ministry to introduce mandatory heat wave protection for gig and platform workers based on the framework outlined in the Social Security Code, 2020.
What gig workers want:
Here is a list of measures the union sought:
- Paid cooling breaks when India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues orange or red warnings due to intense heat
- Mandatory access to potable water, ORS solutions and cooling shelters
- Thermal emergency support systems installed on the side of the application workers
- Protection from fines, ID bans or reduced incentives during heat-related breaks
The letter pointed out that countries around the world — including South Korea, Singapore, France, Japan and the United Arab Emirates — have already implemented enforceable protections against scorching heat.
“India must act now. Heat protection is not a privilege. It is a labor right, a public health imperative and a matter of dignity for the millions of workers powering the platform economy,” said Shaik Salauddin, IFAT National Secretary General.
Meanwhile, the Gig and Platform Service Worker Union (GIPSWU) has urged the Delhi government to take note of the hot conditions in the capital and act to protect thousands of gig workers from the harsh climate.
In this context, she suggested suspending work between noon and 3:00 p.m., when the heat is at its peak. The union also pushed for faster implementation of promised budget measures, including:
Appeal: A glass of water
The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) has urged customers to offer a glass of water to delivery workers who brave direct heat for at least eight hours a day to deliver food or groceries safely.
In a post on social media platform X unie wrote: “When it’s 43-45 degrees celsius outside, imagine standing in the heat all day…they don’t ask for much – just respect and sometimes a glass of water. A small gesture from you can mean everything (sic).”
Even as food and grocery delivery platforms braced for a surge in demand during the summer and the busy IPL season, it was unusually difficult to predict the availability of their riders this year due to the assembly elections and the LPG crisis caused by the war in Iran, The Economic Times reported.
The unions named in the story have been central to pushing for gig workers’ rights and last year called for a nationwide strike demanding the removal of ten-minute deliveries over Christmas and New Year.
