New Delhi, Apr 27 (BNP): As heatwave conditions intensify across India, a major platform workers’ union has called for legally enforceable protections for gig workers exposed to extreme outdoor working conditions.
The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers has written to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, urging the government to introduce binding safeguards under the Code on Social Security, 2020 to protect delivery personnel, ride-hailing drivers, and other platform-based workers.
The union has proposed a range of measures, including paid cooling breaks during severe heat alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department, along with protection from penalties, account blocks, or loss of incentives if workers pause duties due to extreme heat conditions.
It has also recommended basic welfare provisions such as access to drinking water, oral rehydration solutions, and designated cooling shelters for workers operating in high-temperature environments. Additionally, it has called for emergency in-app distress features and public compliance monitoring systems to ensure accountability from digital platforms.
Highlighting growing occupational risks, the federation noted that gig workers continue to operate in harsh summer conditions without adequate safety measures, increasing their vulnerability to heat-related illnesses.
The body also cited international examples, pointing to countries such as South Korea, Singapore, France, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States (California), where similar heat protection frameworks for outdoor and platform workers have already been introduced.
It emphasised that heat protection should be treated not as a discretionary benefit, but as a fundamental labour right and a public health necessity, given the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves.
