Ola, Uber, Porter Score Zero Points On Fairwork’s Rating For Gig Workers

Ride-hailing companies Ola and Uber and logistics startup Porter have scored zero points on Fairwork India’s ratings for the working conditions of gig workers. 

The latest edition of Fairwork’s ‘Fairwork India Ratings 2024’ evaluated 11 digital platforms on five principles – fair pay, fair conditions, fair contracts, fair management, fair representation.

The platforms could get a maximum of two points on each principle. The second point was awarded only to the platforms which fulfilled the condition of the first point.

The report said that the platforms do not have documented mechanisms enabling collective expression of the “voices of all workers, ensure that workers’ freedom of association is not inhibited, and have a written statement of willingness to recognise or negotiate with a collective, independent body of workers”.

Besides, the report also highlighted that none of the digital players pay minimum wages enough to allow workers to afford a basic but decent standard of living. 

BigBasket, Swiggy, Zomato, and Urban Company were the top scorers, getting six points each from the maximum 10 points. While Blusmart got five points, Zepto got four. Amazon Flex bagged two points and Flipkart got one point. 

BigBasket also scored the highest points in the previous year’s report. Interestingly, Ola and Porter failed to open their accounts in the previous edition of the rankings as well. 

The development comes at a time when there is a growing debate about the working conditions of gig workers. Worker unions have often cited problems like long working hours and low wages in the past. Besides, the gig workers of a number of platforms have protested over the last few years to demand better working conditions.

As a result, the Centre and state governments have stepped up the efforts to safeguard the interests of gig workers. Recently, the union labour minister directed aggregator platforms like Urban Company, Swiggy, Zomato, Porter, Even Cargo, Amazon, Uber and Ola to onboard all eligible gig workers on the e-Shram Portal within three months.

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