App-based delivery workers seek minimum wages, social benefits

New Delhi, March 6

Members of the App Karmachari Ekta Union, which is a part of All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), convened their general body meeting at Shakarpur here today.

Delivery workers of app-based services such as Swiggy, Blinkit, and Instamart attended the meeting and voiced their concerns and raised their demands.

They have been raising the issues of being underpaid and decrease in the rate per order system. They had also protested earlier this year in favour of their demands.

The meeting was held after months of awareness campaigns and a membership drive across Delhi, during which over scores of workers joined the union.

“The awareness campaigns emphasised on the urgent necessity of recognition of app workers as workers rather than as partners. The campaign also stressed on their rights of minimum wages, social security and collective bargaining. The riders agreed on the necessity of proactively building unity among workers across zones and companies,” said Apoorva Sharma, president, App Karamchari Ekta Union.

She emphasised that the workers’ strength lies in unity and ensuring that the union grows in all parts of Delhi.

“The riders have demanded that the rate per order system should be done away with. There should be a fixed and regular salary. Besides, a roster system with weekly holidays should be implemented,” Apoorva added.

The general body said the union will now initiate an agitation against the Centre and state governments to press for its demands, which include declaring all app workers as permanent employees.

Their other demands include eight-hour work per day, Rs 26,000 per month as minimum wage, 20% as minimum bonus, social security benefits, dearness allowance in accordance with fuel prices, compensation of Rs 50 lakh in the case of injuries and Rs 1 crore in case of death.