Delhi: Union in GBM Calls for Minimum Wages, Social Security for Delivery Agents

The Karmachari Ekta Union recently convened a General Body Meeting in Shakarpur, drawing riders from various delivery platforms such as Swiggy, Blinkit, Instamart, and others across Delhi. 

The GBM followed extensive awareness campaigns and a membership drive, significantly increasing union membership. The campaigns emphasised the urgency of recognising app workers as employees entitled to minimum wages, social security, and collective bargaining rights. 

The union's active support during the Blinkit workers' strike earlier in 2024 further fueled the membership drive.

During the meeting, Apoorva Sharma, the Union's Convenor, highlighted the importance of unity among workers and the need to expand the union's presence across Delhi. 

Riders echoed this sentiment, underlining the importance of fostering unity across zones and companies. Several speakers, including Anil Kumar and Subhash, advocated abolishing the rate-per-order system in favour of fixed salaries, regular working hours, and weekly holidays.

The meeting was addressed by prominent trade union leaders, including Santosh Roy, Sucheta De, Abhishek, and Surya Prakash, who urged workers to mobilise for their rights and combat growing inequality. 

The meeting concluded by reaffirming the union's demands and the election of a union council, with Apoorva Sharma elected as President and Ritwik Raj as General Secretary. 

The newly elected council announced plans to launch an agitation targeting the Union and state governments to advance its demands.

The charter of demands formulated by the union includes the call for all app employees to be recognised as permanent workers, ensuring job security and stability. The union further calls for a standard 8-hour workday, a minimum monthly wage of Rs. 26,000, and a mandated minimum bonus of 20% from companies. 

The union also stresses the necessity of social security benefits such as Provident Fund (PF) and Employee State Insurance (ESI), as well as dearness allowance tied to inflation rates. In the event of injuries or fatalities, they demand substantial compensation of Rs 50 lakhs and Rs 1 crore, respectively, for affected workers. Additionally, the union demands an immediate end to illegal retrenchments by app companies, highlighting the importance of safeguarding workers' employment rights in the digital economy.