Gig, platform workers call nationwide strike over working conditions

Gig and platform workers have called for a nationwide strike on Wednesday to press five major demands related to pay, safety and social security, Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) founder and president Shaik Salauddin said.Addressing the media, Salauddin stated the strike has been announced in protest against what he termed unfair and exploitative practices adopted by platform-based companies. He said workers have placed five specific demands before the platforms and are seeking urgent action.
According to information,the first demand is the restoration of the earlier payout system, which workers say offered more stable and transparent earnings compared to the current structure.The second demand calls for scrapping the 10-minute delivery model, which, according to workers, creates excessive pressure, encourages risky driving and threatens their safety on the roads.The third issue raised relates to the blocking or deactivation of worker IDs without clear reasons or due process. Salauddin alleged that many workers are removed from platforms arbitrarily, cutting off their income without any effective grievance redressal mechanism.The fourth demand focuses on the algorithms used by platform companies. He said algorithm-driven task allocation and incentive systems are adversely affecting earnings and incentives, contributing to growing financial uncertainty among gig workers.The fifth demand seeks social security coverage for gig and platform workers, including insurance and other welfare benefits.

#WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: On Gig workers call nationwide strike on December 31, Founder & President, Telangana Gig and platform workers union (TGPWU), Shaik Salauddin says, "... We kept five demands before the platform companies. First, they should restore the old payout… pic.twitter.com/AKVPhodzh5

— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2025

Salauddin said that although gig workers form a crucial part of the urban workforce, they continue to remain outside the ambit of basic social protection.In view of these unresolved concerns, the union has called for a flash strike on Wednesday and urged gig and platform workers across the country to participate peacefully. He said the strike aims to draw the attention of platform companies as well as policymakers to the mounting challenges faced by workers in the gig economy.