As scorching temperatures affect many parts of India, the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers has requested the Ministry of Labour and Employment to implement enforceable heatwave protections. Specifically, they are seeking safeguards under the Code on Social Security, 2020, which oversees social security entitlements for gig and platform workers nationwide. The federation has put forth a set of proposals to shield workers from the adverse effects of heatwaves.
These proposals include provisions for paid cooling breaks when orange and red heat alerts are issued by the India Meteorological Department. Moreover, they advocate for protections against penalties, ID blocks, or reduced incentives if workers need to pause their duties due to extreme heat. The federation is also pushing for mandatory access to drinking water, oral rehydration salts, and cooling shelters for workers operating in high-temperature environments.
Additionally, the federation is recommending the implementation of in-app emergency distress systems and public compliance dashboards to ensure accountability among aggregators. Noting the critical nature of the issue, the federation highlighted that delivery personnel, ride-hailing drivers, and home-service workers are currently working in severe heatwave conditions without adequate safeguards, putting their health at risk. They cited examples from countries like South Korea, Singapore, France, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and the US state of California, which have already adopted similar protections for platform workers.
The federation emphasized that heat protection should be viewed as a fundamental labor right, a crucial public health requirement, and a matter of dignity for workers.
