Impact of Fuel Price Hikes on Gig and Platform Workers
The jump in petrol and diesel prices is really hitting people hard. Lakhs of delivery workers and app-based drivers are seriously worried. Gig worker unions are warning that if their earnings aren't fixed fast, a lot of them are going to just walk away from the sector.
The Gig and Platform Service Workers Union, GIPSWU, pushed hard this Friday. They demanded immediate hikes in the per-kilometre service rates from both the government and the big digital platforms. This came right after fuel prices jumped by about three rupees a litre across the country. To protest, the union announced a temporary shutdown of all app-based services tomorrow, from noon until five.
This price increase isn't just some small bump. It’s the first major nationwide fuel price hike in almost four years. Petrol in Delhi is now sitting around 97.77 rupees a litre. Diesel is hovering near 90.67. This whole thing follows the chaos in the Middle East, the ongoing tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, pushing global crude oil prices up. And don't forget the recent hikes on LPG cylinders, adding another layer of cost to household budgets.
This affects nearly 1.2 crore gig and platform workers. These are the people who rely on motorcycles and scooters just to make a living. Think about the workers associated with Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, Ola, Uber, Rapido, Porter, and Amazon Flex. They are out there every day, covering the fuel, the servicing, the constant maintenance themselves.
Seema Singh, the GIPSWU President, called this latest hike a "direct blow." She pointed out that these workers are already struggling with rising expenses, not to mention the brutal heatwave conditions. She pushed for something concrete: a minimum service rate of twenty rupees per kilometre.
“Delivery workers for Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit and others simply cannot bear this,” she said. The warning was clear—many workers are ready to leave if this immediate relief doesn't come.
Nirmal Gorana, the National Coordinator, pointed out where this whole mess lands. Gig workers are among the absolute worst-hit sections of India’s unorganized workforce. He noted that while fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, and running costs have shot up, the payments offered by these digital platforms haven't moved up at all.
Women gig workers, delivery staff, and drivers are facing the toughest conditions. They’re spending ten or fourteen hours a day stuck on the road, battling heavy traffic and extreme weather just to scrape by.
Looking at the numbers, it’s staggering. NITI Aayog estimates there were about 77 lakh gig workers back in 2020 and 2021. That number is expected to shoot past 2.3 crore by 2029 and 2030.
The union has already taken action. They submitted memos to the government and the major platforms. They asked for revised delivery charges, fuel compensation, and urgent intervention. That planned five-hour shutdown tomorrow isn't some idle protest. It’s meant to highlight just how much financial pressure these gig workers are under right now.
Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board
Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.
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