"Female gig workers in India fight for recognition", 8 November, 2024

India’s first women-led gig workers’ union just orchestrated a nationwide digital strike on Diwali. The protest marked a significant milestone in the fight for labour rights across the country...

...Participants switched off their phones and refused to work on Diwali, which is traditionally one of the busiest and most profitable days for platform companies.

The protest demonstrated a solidarity that’s growing among gig workers who, despite their physical isolation, found a way to unite against exploitative practices and have their voices heard...

...Behind the convenient façade of app-based services lies a troubling reality for female gig workers. They face numerous challenges, such as sub-minimum wages, excessive hours, and dangerous working conditions...

...Platform companies’ lack of adequate grievance redressal mechanisms and basic worker protections is to blame for the vulnerability of this workforce that’s expected to operate without a safety net.

The union reports that many workers are forced to work for extended periods to meet unrealistic targets, while companies extract steep commissions from their earnings...

...GIPSWU, led by General Secretary Seema Singh, is pushing for essential worker entitlements including living wages, health benefits, maternity leave, and social security protections...

...The digital strike represents a pivotal moment for India’s labour movement, where traditional union tactics meet modern technology-enabled protest methods...