Gig workers’ body seeks mandatory heatwave protections from government
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A national body representing gig and platform workers has urged the government to introduce enforceable safeguards to protect workers during extreme heat, as rising temperatures pose serious health risks across the country.
The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers has written to the Ministry of Labour and Employment seeking protections under the Code on Social Security, 2020, which governs social security benefits for gig and platform workers.
In its letter, the federation proposed measures including paid cooling breaks during orange and red alerts. It also called for safeguards to ensure workers are not penalised, blocked from platforms, or deprived of incentives if they pause work due to extreme heat.
Additional demands include mandatory access to drinking water, oral rehydration salts, and cooling shelters for workers such as delivery personnel, ride-hailing drivers, and home-service providers.
The federation has also suggested introducing in-app emergency distress systems and public compliance dashboards to ensure accountability among platform companies.
It said workers continue to operate under severe heatwave conditions without adequate protection, exposing them to significant health risks. Calling heat protection a labour right and a public health necessity, the body urged urgent action.
The federation also pointed to international examples, noting that countries including South Korea, Singapore, France, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and the US state of California have already implemented similar safeguards for platform workers.