How Bengaluru police is taking the lead in ensuring gig workers' safety

According to police, there have been more than 50 cases of assaults/robberies reported in Bengaluru against gig workers at night over the past few months

With the gig economy booming, the safety of lakhs of workers delivering food, groceries, medicines, parcels, etc., is becoming a cause for concern.

As gig workers turn victims and offenders, Bengaluru police, probably for the first time in India, has decided to come up with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for their safety.

According to the police, more than 50 cases of assaults/robberies have been reported in Bengaluru against gig workers during night over the past few months.

Also read: After Rajasthan, Karnataka notifies Rs 4 lakh insurance cover for gig workers

In August 2023, the police busted a three-member gang for allegedly robbing 25 mobile phones from delivery executives working at night in and around the southeast division.

So, why are gig workers easy targets?

Most of the delivery workers use electric bikes, which are slower than petrol ones, and they attach mobile phones to the handlebars for easy navigation. While there have been several instances of thieves targeting gig workers, there have also been cases of drug parcels being sent using delivery apps.

ALSO READ: Karnataka labour minister proposes 5% cess on vehicles to support informal and gig workers

Meeting with companies 

The Bengaluru police recently held a meeting with the representatives of more than 20 companies that employ gig workers. At the meeting, the police proposed measures like safety training and safety gear for delivery executives, creating safe delivery zones, and implementing buddy systems during night-time deliveries, as well as setting up WhatsApp groups to monitor the safety of workers.

"We have issued some advisories to the firms and will soon come up with SOPs. The Bengaluru police are always at the forefront of such initiatives. We will soon come up with SOPs for gig workers that can be replicated in all cities," CK Baba, deputy commissioner of police (southeast division), told Moneycontrol.

"The SOPs will cover safety training, awareness, emergency protocols, and self-defence techniques. Gig workers should be equipped with safety gear, such as reflective vests and helmets. There is a need to raise their awareness about traffic rules since they sometimes disregard them when rushing to make deliveries, such as taking shortcuts or ignoring traffic signals," emphasised Baba.

ALSO READ: Karnataka Budget: Government announces Rs 4 lakh insurance cover for gig workers

"For late-night deliveries to dark or remote areas with higher risks, we plan to collaborate with companies to establish secure routes. Although they already have integrated GPS tracking systems, real-time monitoring and emergency panic buttons are also essential," explained Baba.

Drug parcels via delivery apps

"As much as they are vulnerable on the road while delivering goods and services, they also carry a lot of risky items, which they may or may not be aware of. These items could include narcotics, banned substances, or other things that can create problems for them," warned Baba.

"The primary objective is to create a safe ecosystem for them. Gig workers are vulnerable and often neglected, lacking the privileges/perks of other professions. However, they also face significant risks. If a customer orders food and doesn't pay, the cost may be deducted from their earnings," said Baba.

Baba said they will collaborate with firms employing gig workers to understand the entire ecosystem, including safety standards, vulnerabilities, and associated problems.

"There is often a disconnect between the management and frontline workers. What happens on the ground differs from the management's perspective, as their mindsets are different. In a few months, we plan to hold another meeting with companies to formalise and streamline the entire gig ecosystem," he said.

Vinay Sarathi, president of United Food Delivery Partners’ Union, said: "There are several instances of gangs stealing mobile phones and also assaulting in remote places, especially at night. But many cases go unregistered due to multiple reasons."

Meanwhile, a Swiggy spokesperson in a statement said, "Swiggy's Emergency Support Services (ESS) comprise a 24/7 hotline, emergency cards, direct access to the local police, and a free and rapid ambulance service."

"If they ever feel unsafe, we urge them to hand over the delivery and report the incident. They will not face penalties for not collecting cash from the customer. Additionally, we thoroughly investigate concerns related to order authenticity or safety based on complaints," it adds.

Even Zomato is taking steps.

“To ensure the safety of our delivery partners, we have an emergency hotline feature on the delivery partner app that enables them to call the police, ambulance or the Zomato hotline in case of any emergency. These are active 24/7," a Zomato spokesperson told Moneycontrol.

"Additionally, on the application itself, our delivery partners (DP) can also request for immediate support on ground zero from nearby DPs, in case of an emergency."

Federation welcomes move

Shaik Salauddin, national general secretary, Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT), which represents app-based transport and delivery workers, welcomed the move to come up with an SOP to ensure the safety of gig workers.

"This is a welcome move by the Bengaluru police and the Karnataka government. This model can be emulated across the country since gig workers have been targeted across the country," he said.

There are also complaints of gig workers violating traffic rules. MN Anucheth, joint commissioner of police, Bengaluru city traffic police, told Moneycontrol: "When it comes to traffic, we primarily found two major violations by gig workers: wrong driving and riding on the footpath to avoid U-turns and deliver faster. We will take up these issues in the next meeting with companies employing these gig workers."

While the state government doesn't have data on gig workers, NITI Aayog's 2022 data indicates their number to be around 2.33 lakh in Karnataka.