A gig worker rests on his two-wheeler during a break between deliveries on a street in Thrissur. (File photo)
Gig and platform workers in the State who work long hours now have a place to put their feet up.
Keralam’s first wellness hub for gig workers that will be opened near the Press Club in the State capital on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) will address a long-standing demand of gig and platform workers’ unions for designated resting areas and washrooms.
The ‘GIGON’ wellness hub is being unveiled by the Labour department as part of the State government’s 100-day action plan to improve the working conditions of gig workers who do not find places to take rest amid their hectic schedules.
The growing workforce of delivery workers and taxi drivers who work through online platforms can now take rest at the GIGON hub during their work and use facilities such as drinking water, toilets, eating space, mobile phone charging, and television. The hub will function from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Union welcomes move
Ameer Azad, vice-president of the All Kerala Gig and Platform Workers Union (CITU), says they only recently came to know about the resting hub but welcome it wholeheartedly. “A year ago, there was a government proposal to set up such a space, but nothing came of it. We had even staged a protest to press our demand. Gig and platform workers work 10-15 hours a day. If they are able to take rest for even half an hour or use the washroom at such a facility, it will be of great help to them.”
Mr. Azad points out that many taxi drivers who come to the State capital from outside are forced to sleep inside their vehicles and use the facilities in petrol bunks to freshen up. Food delivery personnel are also denied access to basic facilities by hotels and restaurants. They are forced to wait outside, even if there are delays in packing food. They are also not allowed to use toilets in hotels, he says, praising the government for heeding the gig workers’ demand.
In more places
The GIGON wellness hubs will come up in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode initially. The government has sanctioned ₹1 crore for the initiative.
According to the Labour department, GIGON is not just a resting hub but also a government intervention to ensure the welfare and safety of gig workers. After a review of the hub operations in the first phase, the project will be expanded to other districts.
The government is also considering bringing in a gig workers’ Bill.
Minister for Labour Bindhu Krishna will inaugurate the GIGON resting hub at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
Published – September 21, 2026 06:35 pm IST
