Parliamentarian Manoj Kumar Jha, a member of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, has written to the Prime Minister seeking urgent intervention in the ongoing concerns of gig and platform workers across India.
In a letter shared on X, Jha said the nationwide protests by gig workers on Christmas and New Year’s Eve were not driven by sudden anger, but were a response to prolonged exploitation, lack of social security, and erosion of labour rights.
Earlier, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha also extended support, sharing a video urging delivery platforms to hold meaningful dialogue with workers. He also posted images of his interaction with delivery partners in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar, highlighting their demands for fair wages, humane working conditions, dignity at work, and social security.
“This protest was not about disruption, but about being heard. I stand in solidarity with them. I hope platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy, Zomato and others sincerely engage with workers,” Chadha wrote.
Key Demands Listed in Manoj Jha’s Letter
Jha, who is also a member of the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas, urged the Prime Minister to consider the following measures:
- Legal recognition of gig workers under labour laws with employment rights
- Regulation of platform companies to ensure accountability
- Ban on the 10-minute delivery model citing safety risks
- End to arbitrary ID blocking, penalties and deactivations, with a guaranteed right to appeal
- Fair and transparent wage structure, minimum guaranteed income linked to work hours and expenses
- Comprehensive social security, including health insurance, accident cover, disability support and pensions
- Regulation of algorithmic management systems for transparency and non-discrimination
- Right to unionise and collective bargaining without fear or retaliation
Jha stressed that forced penalties, sudden suspensions and threats of account deactivation violate workers’ constitutional rights. He also flagged safety concerns surrounding the quick-delivery race, citing road accident risk, health stress and unsafe working conditions. He argued that the “10-minute delivery” culture also impacts societal behavior by normalising consumer impatience, especially among youth.
Nationwide Strike and Platform Response
Gig workers’ unions have announced pan-India strikes, with thousands of food and quick-commerce delivery personnel already participating across several cities. Many workers also held rallies, resulting in delayed deliveries in multiple regions.
Following this, major delivery platforms reportedly rolled out additional incentives and earning benefits to encourage riders to remain active during peak demand periods, especially New Year’s Eve.