Gig Workers Protest Fuel Price Hike with Five-Hour Shutdown
Gig Workers Call For Five Hour Shutdown, Demand Relief After Fuel Price Hike
News 18
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In response to a recent fuel price hike of approximately ₹3 per litre, the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) is organizing a five-hour shutdown of app-based services. The union demands an increase in per-kilometre service rates to alleviate financial pressures on gig workers, who are struggling with rising costs and long working hours.
- 01The recent fuel price increase is the first major hike in nearly four years, with petrol in Delhi now at ₹97.77 per litre and diesel at ₹90.67 per litre.
- 02Approximately 1.2 crore gig workers, including delivery personnel for companies like Swiggy and Uber, are directly impacted by rising fuel costs.
- 03GIPSWU President Seema Singh called the fuel price hike a 'direct blow' to workers already facing financial strain.
- 04Gig workers often work 10 to 14 hours daily, grappling with high costs of fuel and vehicle maintenance without proportional increases in their earnings.
- 05The union has submitted memorandums to the government and digital platforms, seeking urgent intervention and revised delivery charges.
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The recent increase in petrol and diesel prices by about ₹3 per litre has raised alarm among gig workers in India, prompting the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) to call for a five-hour shutdown of app-based services. Petrol in Delhi is now priced at ₹97.77 per litre, while diesel costs ₹90.67 per litre. This hike is the first significant fuel price increase in nearly four years and follows a surge in global crude oil prices due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, particularly around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. GIPSWU President Seema Singh emphasized that the rise would adversely affect approximately 1.2 crore gig workers, who rely on motorcycles and scooters for their income. Many of these workers are already struggling with rising expenses, including long hours on the road under extreme weather conditions. The union is demanding a minimum service rate of ₹20 per kilometre to help alleviate the financial burden on workers. They have submitted memorandums to both the government and major digital platforms, urging for immediate action to address these escalating costs.
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The fuel price hike could lead to increased delivery charges for consumers and may force gig workers to reconsider their employment in the sector due to rising operational costs.
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