New Delhi, December 31 (IANS). Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha spent New Year’s Eve with gig workers (delivery partners) in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar area. These workers work on food and grocery delivery platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy and Zomato and were conducting a symbolic strike for their demands.
Workers shared their major problems during the protest. These include low and uncertain income, long working hours (at times 12-14 hours), no social security (PF, ESI, health insurance, pension), lack of respect at work and unilateral change of rules by platforms.
He told that his earnings are decreasing due to rising prices of petrol and diesel and inflation.
Raghav Chadha called the protest peaceful and legitimate, saying, “These workers are an important part of India’s urban workforce. These people work hard day and night, but they neither get minimum wages nor any safety net. Their protest is just an attempt to raise their voice, and there was no violence or obstruction in it.”
Expressing solidarity with the workers, he said, “Their demands, fair wages, better working conditions, respect at work and social security, are completely justified. The government and platform companies should seriously consider these issues.”
Chadha appealed to the management of platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy and Zomato to have a meaningful dialogue with workers and arrive at a fair, humane solution.
He stressed, “India’s development cannot be based on insecurity, exploitation and uncertainty. It must be based on justice, dignity and security. Millions of youth working in the gig economy are part of the country’s progress. They cannot be made victims of exploitation.”
–IANS
SCH/ABM
