NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Wednesday extended strong support to gig workers across the country who observed a nationwide symbolic strike, demanding fair wages, better working conditions and social security from major delivery and e-commerce platforms.
Chadha spent New Year’s Eve interacting with protesting gig workers at Old Rajinder Nagar in Delhi, where delivery partners associated with various companies had gathered to make their voices heard.
The protest, he said, was peaceful and aimed solely at drawing attention to the hardships faced by gig workers, who form a crucial part of India’s urban workforce.
“Spent New Year’s Eve with gig workers at Old Rajinder Nagar, who held a symbolic strike to make their voices heard, ” Chadha wrote in a post on X, sharing photographs from the interaction.
He described the workers’ demands as “legitimate and just” and expressed solidarity with their call for fair wages, dignity at work and social security.
The nationwide strike, called jointly by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), saw thousands of delivery partners across several states log off their apps or reduce work significantly.
The protest impacted services on one of the busiest commercial days of the year, with reports of delays and cancellations in multiple cities.
Chadha urged the management of platforms such as Blinkit Zepto Swiggy and Zomato to engage in meaningful dialogue with their workers and arrive at fair and humane solutions.
“India’s growth cannot rest on insecurity and exploitation. It must be anchored in justice, dignity and respect for labour, ” he said.
The MP also referred to his recent meeting with Blinkit delivery partner Himanshu Thapliyal, who went viral after speaking about the meagre earnings of gig workers.
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