On one hand, there has been relief news for lakhs of gig workers across the country, but on the other hand, their problems remain the same. Following the intervention of the Central Government, quick commerce and food delivery platforms like Blinkit, Swiggy, Zomato and Zepto have removed the 10-minute delivery claim and strict time limits from their branding and advertisements.
Union Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a meeting with the representatives of these companies and gave strict instructions to keep the safety of the delivery partners on top, but the delivery boys say that the time pressure has reduced, but the real problem still remains that there is no fixed income and one has to risk one’s life in the race to place more orders.
Delivery partners expressed their problems
While talking to ABP News, many delivery partners expressed their pain. Rakesh Kumar, a delivery boy from Delhi, said, ‘This step of the government is good, now we are relieved of at least 10 minutes of hurry, but our earnings depend on orders. The more orders, the more money. In such a situation, one has to run fast in the traffic, the fear of an accident always haunts.
At the same time, another partner said, ‘Delivery boys become victims of road accidents due to large orders, only because companies give incentives on large deliveries, but do not pay attention to safety.’
Gig workers should get the status of workers – Nirmal Gorana
It is noteworthy that this decision has come after complaints where delivery partners were becoming victims of accidents due to speeding. In the meeting of the Labor Ministry, the companies were clearly told that the business will not run at the cost of the lives of the partners, but the gig workers say that this is not enough. Nirmal Gorana, co-ordinator of Gig and Platform Service Workers Union, told ABP News, ‘We welcome this step of the government, but the real issue is that gig workers should get the status of workers. Companies should fix a fixed amount, so that they do not have to risk their lives for every order.
Gorana further said that he has also filed a complaint regarding this matter in Human Rights and along with this he said that if his demands are not met by January 30, then the gig workers of the entire country will go on strike. He appealed to the Central Government and Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to give instructions to the platforms, so that the workers get minimum wages, insurance and other facilities. According to the union, these platforms are earning profits worth crores, but the condition of the workers is pathetic. No leave, no safety net.
At the same time, if there is a strike, there will be a big impact on quick commerce and food delivery services, especially in big cities. It remains to be seen what action the government takes now. At present, the delivery partners are looking towards the central government with hope.
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