Expressing concerns regarding the treatment of gig labour in India, AAP member of parliament Raghav Chadha recently cited a viral video in which a Blinkit deliveryman stated that he received only Rs 763 in returns for making 28 deliveries in almost 15 hours.
Chadha, a parliamentarian who has been a strong voice for the rights of gig economy workers, added if a digital economy is built on a labour base that is “underpaid” and “overworked”, we will never have a strong digital economy in India." The delivery person, named as Thapliyal Ji from Uttarakhand, posted a screenshot on his Instagram account, where he reveals that he earns only Rs. 51.33 on average every hour.
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“This is not a gig economy success story. This is systemic exploitation hidden behind apps and algorithms... This Blinkit case only confirms what millions live every day,” Chadha tweeted.
Plight of gig workers
The AAP leader began explaining issues plaguing the gig workforce as “low pay, crushing targets, no job security, and no dignity.” Despite the booming digital economy, the leader says issues related to workers’ rights have not improved.
Chadha has demanded the banning of 10-minute delivery companies because such strict timelines put workers’ lives at risk. He insisted that just compensation, proper working hours, and social security protection for workers in the gig industry remain non-negotiables.
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Voices from the industry
Chadha’s tweet generated widespread debate in social media. An user wrote, “And if one uses an e-bike like YULU or something, Rs 200 per day for that. And if not, and uses his own vehicle, then Rs 150-200 for petrol. In the end, it's Rs 500-600 per day, Rs 15K-18K a month.”
In 2020-21, India had 77 lakh gig workers, as per a report by NITI AAYOG, and figures are likely to reach 2.35 crores by 2029-30.
