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A group of unions representing gig workers associated with ride-hailing platforms such as Uber, Ola, and Rapido has called for a one-day strike on Saturday, which is expected to impact operations in major metros, including Delhi and Mumbai.
The movement led by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) said on Wednesday that app-based transport workers across the country will observe an 'All India Breakdown' when they go offline for six hours to seek government intervention to notify minimum fares.
The strike is being organised in protest against what the unions describe as “illegal” bike taxi services and the “arbitrary” fare policies followed by ride aggregators like Ola, Uber, and Rapido, the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha told PTI.
Another key issue raised by the unions relates to the installation of panic buttons in vehicles, which they claim has imposed an additional financial burden on drivers without adequate support from platforms or authorities.
Among other concerns, drivers have highlighted income losses due to the rising number of auto rickshaws operating under the open permit policy. The unions have also flagged the lack of clarity around insurance coverage for victims of accidents involving allegedly illegal bike taxi services.
Driving the news
In a letter addressed to Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on February 2, the TGPWU emphasised long-standing issues faced by gig workers.
The union demanded the implementation of a fixed fare system for drivers working with aggregator platforms such as Uber, Ola, and Rapido, as well as other platforms operating autos, cabs, and bike taxis, including Porter.
The letter underscored concerns around “insecurity, exploitation, and unsustainable working conditions” prevalent in the gig economy, particularly for app-based transport workers.
Meanwhile, a delegation of transport and delivery gig workers met the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to seek legislation for gig workers and stronger implementation of regulations at the Centre and in Congress-ruled states, TGPWU said.
The delegation flagged key challenges faced by gig workers and stressed that while social security schemes exist, they cannot replace statutory protections.
Why it matters
The demands come amid growing concerns around income volatility in India’s rapidly expanding gig economy. The Economic Survey 2025-26 notedthat while the sector continues to grow, earnings remain uneven, with around 40% of gig workers earning less than Rs 15,000 per month.
The number of gig workers rose 55% to 1.2 crore in FY25 from 77 lakh in FY21, driven by increased smartphone penetration and the adoption of digital payments. The sector now accounts for over 2% of India’s total workforce and is expanding faster than overall employment, the survey said.
Bharat Taxi enters the picture
Against this backdrop, Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched the Bharat Taxi app, an initiative aimed at strengthening cooperative participation and improving welfare measures for taxi drivers across the country.
The Bharat Taxi app allows users to book autos, bike taxis, and cabs across economy, sedan, XL, and priority categories through a single interface. It is currently available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Unlike conventional ride-hailing platforms that charge drivers commission rates of 20-30% per trip, Bharat Taxi operates on a zero-commission model, with profits distributed directly among driver-members, according to the ministry of cooperation.
Under the initiative, every Sarathi (driver-member) is provided Rs 5 lakh in personal accident insurance and Rs 5 lakh in family health insurance, significantly enhancing social security coverage for gig workers. Drivers are also free to work on other platforms, with no exclusivity or “loyalty” clauses.
“We strongly welcome Bharat Taxi as a landmark step towards ending the exploitative commission-based model in ride-hailing services. For the first time, drivers are being recognised as owners, not expendable gig workers,” said Shaik Salauddin, founder and president of TGPWU.
With over three lakh drivers already onboarded and around 10,000 rides completed daily during its pilot phase in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat, Bharat Taxi plans to expand to all states within the next two years.
According to government data, the platform has also onboarded more than 6.7 lakh users. It has introduced initiatives such as “Bike Didi,” under which over 150 women drivers have joined, aiming to address safety concerns while expanding livelihood opportunities for women.
The movement led by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) said on Wednesday that app-based transport workers across the country will observe an 'All India Breakdown' when they go offline for six hours to seek government intervention to notify minimum fares.
The strike is being organised in protest against what the unions describe as “illegal” bike taxi services and the “arbitrary” fare policies followed by ride aggregators like Ola, Uber, and Rapido, the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha told PTI.
Another key issue raised by the unions relates to the installation of panic buttons in vehicles, which they claim has imposed an additional financial burden on drivers without adequate support from platforms or authorities.
Among other concerns, drivers have highlighted income losses due to the rising number of auto rickshaws operating under the open permit policy. The unions have also flagged the lack of clarity around insurance coverage for victims of accidents involving allegedly illegal bike taxi services.
Driving the news
In a letter addressed to Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on February 2, the TGPWU emphasised long-standing issues faced by gig workers.
The union demanded the implementation of a fixed fare system for drivers working with aggregator platforms such as Uber, Ola, and Rapido, as well as other platforms operating autos, cabs, and bike taxis, including Porter.
The letter underscored concerns around “insecurity, exploitation, and unsustainable working conditions” prevalent in the gig economy, particularly for app-based transport workers.
Meanwhile, a delegation of transport and delivery gig workers met the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to seek legislation for gig workers and stronger implementation of regulations at the Centre and in Congress-ruled states, TGPWU said.
The delegation flagged key challenges faced by gig workers and stressed that while social security schemes exist, they cannot replace statutory protections.
Why it matters
The demands come amid growing concerns around income volatility in India’s rapidly expanding gig economy. The Economic Survey 2025-26 notedthat while the sector continues to grow, earnings remain uneven, with around 40% of gig workers earning less than Rs 15,000 per month.
The number of gig workers rose 55% to 1.2 crore in FY25 from 77 lakh in FY21, driven by increased smartphone penetration and the adoption of digital payments. The sector now accounts for over 2% of India’s total workforce and is expanding faster than overall employment, the survey said.
Bharat Taxi enters the picture
Against this backdrop, Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched the Bharat Taxi app, an initiative aimed at strengthening cooperative participation and improving welfare measures for taxi drivers across the country.
The Bharat Taxi app allows users to book autos, bike taxis, and cabs across economy, sedan, XL, and priority categories through a single interface. It is currently available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Unlike conventional ride-hailing platforms that charge drivers commission rates of 20-30% per trip, Bharat Taxi operates on a zero-commission model, with profits distributed directly among driver-members, according to the ministry of cooperation.
Under the initiative, every Sarathi (driver-member) is provided Rs 5 lakh in personal accident insurance and Rs 5 lakh in family health insurance, significantly enhancing social security coverage for gig workers. Drivers are also free to work on other platforms, with no exclusivity or “loyalty” clauses.
“We strongly welcome Bharat Taxi as a landmark step towards ending the exploitative commission-based model in ride-hailing services. For the first time, drivers are being recognised as owners, not expendable gig workers,” said Shaik Salauddin, founder and president of TGPWU.
With over three lakh drivers already onboarded and around 10,000 rides completed daily during its pilot phase in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat, Bharat Taxi plans to expand to all states within the next two years.
According to government data, the platform has also onboarded more than 6.7 lakh users. It has introduced initiatives such as “Bike Didi,” under which over 150 women drivers have joined, aiming to address safety concerns while expanding livelihood opportunities for women.
