Telangana Gig Workers Call Off Strike After Government Talks

Gig and platform workers in Telangana called off an indefinite strike scheduled for August 8 after reaching a breakthrough in negotiations with the state government. The resolution followed an emergency joint conciliation meeting on August 7 convened by the Telangana Labour Department, which included representatives from platform companies such as Uber, Ola, Zomato, and Swiggy.

Shaik Salauddin, President of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union, had demanded immediate fare increases, the enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines of 2020 and 2025, and the implementation of the Gig and Platform Workers Act's rules and board. Unions also sought an end to the use of private white-plate vehicles for commercial rides and expressed grievances over poor working conditions and the pressure of 10-minute delivery mandates.

Minister for Labour, Employment, Training and Factories and Mines and Geology G. Vivek Venkatswamy chaired the final discussions. He assured union representatives that their demands would be examined sympathetically and stated that the government is currently framing guidelines to implement the Telangana Gig Workers Welfare Act. The workers agreed to cancel the strike following these commitments to social security and worker welfare.