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Transport workers associated with ride-hailing platforms have called for an ‘All India Breakdown’ on February 7

The workers demand include government-mandated minimum base fares and an end to the use of private vehicles for commercial purposes

The workers are expected to strike for six hours across the country, affecting cabs, autos and bike taxis

Drivers of ride-hailing platforms like Ola, Uber, Rapido and Porter are planning to go on a nationwide strike on Saturday (February 7) to protest against alleged irregular wages and lapses in enforcement of regulations.

The ‘All India Breakdown’ will see ride-hailing services disrupted for at least six hours, affecting cabs, autos and bike taxis across the country, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU), which has called the strike, said.

The Union said that despite the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines being passed in 2025, “platforms continue to fix fares arbitrarily”.

In a letter addressed to Union road and transport minister Nitin Gadkari earlier this week, the TGPWU alleged that in the absence of government regulated fare-structures, ride aggregating platforms are unilaterally fixing fares. This is leading to “severe income insecurity, exploitation and unsustainable working conditions for millions of transport workers”, it said.

The Union has demanded that state and central governments fix minimum base fares in consultation with driver and workers unions on the basis of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2025.

However, it has demanded that clause 17.3 of the guidelines, which permits aggregators to charge a minimum of 50% lower than the base fare be removed.

Additionally, it has requested an immediate halt on the use of private vehicles for commercial purposes or enforcement of mandatory conversion rules.

The gig worker economy has faced mounting criticism from workers in recent months, with similar strikes carried out on Christmas and New Year by delivery agents working with platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto and Blinkit. They demanded safer working conditions, regulation of pay and targets along with benefits like health insurance.

In response, quick commerce platforms, including Eternal-operated Blinkit, decided to remove ‘10-minute delivery’ from all external communication.

During a protest held on Tuesday (February 3), gig workers also requested the formation of an internal complaints committee, the right to respond to customer complaints, and an end to arbitrary ID blocking.

Female gig workers associated with hyperlocal services provider Urban Company also held a protest in Mumbai this week, calling for an end to ‘instant’ services after the company asked workers to provide salon services within 15-minute time slots.

As per Indian Staffing Federation, the gig workforce saw a 55% jump to 1.20 Cr workers in FY25 from 77 Lakh workers in FY21, accounting for 2% of India’s total workforce.

The Economic Survey 2026 also called for policy interventions to improve working conditions of those employed in the gig economy, including the introduction of competition rules, data access, and algorithmic transparency.