A gig workers’ union has expressed strong opposition to the absence of minimum wage guarantee provisions in the Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security & Welfare) Bill, 2025.
Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU) office-bearer Shaik Salauddin said minimum wage was a key demand that would ensure equitable pay for all gig workers. The lack of this very safeguard is problematic.
“What of the minimum wage guarantee? This is one aspect that will protect gig and platform workers from being exploited. When this clause in not made available in the Bill, it puts a lot of workers, who toil in unsafe conditions on bad road, battling heatwaves and rains, in a vulnerable position. Minimum wage guarantee per ride, per trip, per delivery is critical,” Mr Salauddin said.
Mr.Salauddin said the TGPWU demanded the inclusion of enforceable minimum wage in the final version of the Bill, and provisions to ensure daily or hourly minimum wages for all platform-based workers. “We want to urge Chief Minister A.Revanth Reddy and the Labour Minister to take a serious view of the matter and commit to this safeguard. Minimum wage guarantee should be included immediatley,” Mr.Salauddin said.
It is estimated that there are around 3.5 lakh to 4 lakh gig and platform workers in Telangana. According to both unions and workers, they work long shifts, which on several occasions go up to 12 hours. An overwhelming majority of gig and platform workers are young men, up to the age of 35 years.
In the recent past, the TGPWU had pointed out that those from the backward castes and classes constitute a significant chunk of gig and platform workers, indicating a dire need for government intervention.
To further illustrate the difficult conditions in which gig workers work, the TGPWU along with Heat Watch embarked on a survey which revealed that 52% of the respondents experienced heat exhaustion.
Published – July 23, 2025 01:55 am IST
