Andhra, Telangana floods: Gig Workers' Union urges delivery platforms to cease operations in affected areas

Floods in Amaravati

In the wake of the flooding in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) on September 3 urged delivery platforms to cease operations in affected areas.

In a statement, Shaik Salauddin, founder president of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU), said: “As several districts in Telangana and its neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh continue to battle severe waterlogging and flash floods, reports have surfaced of delivery workers, working with various food and grocery delivery apps, wading through heavily waterlogged streets and lanes.”

Salauddin, who is also the National General Secretary of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), said, “All aggregator companies should cease operations in flood-affected areas and pay workers the ‘minimum guarantee’ as compensation for loss of pay due to the dire flood situation.”

Also, read: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana floods: 26 NDRF teams deployed for relief ops

Salauddin also urged delivery platforms, such as Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, BigBasket, and others, to remove time-bound delivery guarantees in areas experiencing light to moderate rainfall and to implement rain surges for all delivery workers without fail.

He also urged these platforms to provide raincoats, rain-protective phone covers, extra charging cords, and power banks at no extra cost to their delivery workers.

He also appealed to ride-hailing platforms, such as Uber, Ola, and Rapido, to provide an amount of Rs 1 lakh towards the cost of vehicle repairs for drivers whose vehicles (cabs and autos) have been damaged by the flash floods.

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Salauddin urged the Telangana state government to issue a directive to all platforms immediately. “In one particular video brought to the union’s notice, a delivery worker in Gajuwaka (in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh) was harassed and assaulted by a man claiming to be a Sub-Inspector,” he said.

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“The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted ‘fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall’ in Telangana over the next seven days. Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (speed 30-40 kmph) are also likely in some parts of the state over the next few days. In light of these predictions, and given the extent of damage to public infrastructure (including roads and major highways) due to heavy rains and flooding, TGPWU is deeply concerned for the safety and well-being of all gig and platform workers,” he added.

Also, read: Telangana floods: Amid tragic deaths, IMD warns of more heavy rains in Hyderabad, other dists