A Lesson From China On Gig Workers Right

Context: Gig Economy is new normal which is leading to uncertain company policies.

Challenges before Indian gig workers

• Denial of Social Security benefits because gig workers are not declared as ‘unorganized workers’ so they do not come under purview of the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008.
• Faulty performance evaluation criteria based on optimization algorithms disrespecting their rights.
• Sophisticated Labour Control System of  Delivery apps: Creates animosity between app users and workers, and shifts entire responsibilities of receiving orders and maintaining smooth flow of deliveries onto workers.
• Decreasing piece rates” and unilateral change of contract terms/platform rules by aggregator apps.
• Lack of support from masses: Any reform in this sector is led wholly by delivery workers, not public.
  • In Hyderbad for the first time, 3000 delivery workers from swiggy went on strike on their own to protest the slash in remuneration from ?35 to ?15 per order which ended with joint hearing of platform’s operations manager and the workers’ union.
  • Similarly, Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers, on behalf of gig workers, filed a PIL in the SC demanding relief to workers affected by pandemic.

Way forward: During COVID-19 pandemic ‘invisible workers’ being propelled to ‘frontline workers’ and their demands for rights and dignity should be public driven as happened in China and other countries.

• Recognition of responsibility: Food delivery platforms, Meituan and Ele.me ended  the practice of forcing workers to register as ‘independent businesses’(evading  responsibilities as employers) due to public pressure.
• Common Prosperity drive of China for narrowing the wealth gap increased the govt’s scrutiny over food delivery platforms
  • A Govt official disguised himself as a Meituan driver and worked a 12-hour shift barely making RMB 41 ($6.32) for a day’s work leading to labor guidelines by agencies in favor of delivery workers.
• Social mobilisation: In the U.S., gig workers collective has urged customers to delete the Instacart app as a show of solidarity until demands for better working conditions are met.