Gig workers union demands social security

Hyderabad : With various incidents being faced by the Gig workersin the city, the Telangana Gig and Platforms Workers Union (TGPWU) urged the State government to provide gig workers social security benefits like life insurance, personal accident insurance, and health insurance.

Following the recent incident in Panchvati Colony in Manikonda when an Amazon delivery man, 31-year-old Mohammad Ilyas was forced to jump from the 3rdfloor, after a dog attacked him when he went to deliver a parcel. The delivery man received several injuries and the treatment for his injuries costs around Rs 3.7 lakh. Following this, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union demanded that the dog owner to bear the expenses of the treatment.

TGPWU president, Shaik Salauddin said that several such incidents were reported in recent months when dogs attacked delivery persons, but neither the had the owner helped the workers nor the government. “How can a delivery man bear such a huge amount for his treatment?” he asked.

Gig workers have been rapidly increasing in the city, but there is no social security and other provision for gig workers of these firms. Hence, they have been requesting the government and companies to provide social security and other benefits to these workers,” he said and added that the platform lacks government laws.

These platforms were initiated in 2012 and since then there were no laws, social security and no demands of the workers were fulfilled. “With various incidents reported in the city, no worker is benefitted with any social security. Though the MAUD Minister K T Rama Rao earlier this month ensured to protect the livelihoods of gig workers, nothing has been done so far,” added Salauddin.

The TGPWU urged the dog owners to tie their pets when the delivery agents come to deliver and urged the GHMC Mayor and GHMC commissioner to mandate notice boards regarding pets and must take action if any dog attack incident occurs.

Salauddin said, “Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWA) across the city should discuss the matter in their meetings and take appropriate steps regarding the dog attack cases.”

The union demanded that Amazon should bear Mohammed Ilyas loss of pay as he was injured during duty hours and would not be able to return to work immediately.

“His livelihood will be affected by this. So, Amazon should pay him at least Rs 1,000 per day. Taking this incident, Amazon should make a policy for such an incident.”