Other platforms to score zero in the report were Amazon Flex and PharmEasy, while Porter scores just 1 point out of 10
As per the ‘Fairwork India Ratings 2022 Report‘, Ola, Uber, and quick-grocery delivery provider Dunzo are the worst performers across parameters related to the working conditions of gig workers when it comes to fair work for gig workers among the digital platform economy in India.
The Fairwork India team was spearheaded by the Centre for IT and Public Policy (CITAPP), International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B), in association with Oxford University in the UK.
Other platforms that scored zero in the report were Amazon Flex and PharmEasy, while Porter scores just 1 point out of 10.
According to the report, Bigbasket, Flipkart, and Urban Company implemented and operationalized policies to ensure that all workers on these platforms earn at least the hourly local minimum wage after factoring in work-related costs.
The report said, “Across 12 digital labor platforms — Amazon Flex, Bigbasket, Dunzo, Flipkart, Ola, PharmEasy, Porter, Swiggy, Uber, Urban Company, Zepto, and Zomato — no platform scored more than seven out of the maximum of 10 points, and none scored all the first points across the five principles (fair pay, fair conditions, fair contracts, fair management, and fair representation) for gig workers.”
Professor Balaji Parthasarathy, one of the principal investigators of the team, said that these findings are alarming for all stakeholders — government, consumers, and platform owners — and they should come together to help gig workers get the best working conditions.
“We would like the government and other stakeholders like consumers and digital labor platform owners to take note of these findings and ensure a better work environment for millions of gig workers in 2023,” Parthasarathy said.
There were two highlights: Firstly, the same three platforms that scored the first point for Fair Pay last year scored a point this year too. “No other platform publicly committed, or provided sufficient evidence, to ensure that workers earn at least the hourly local minimum wage after work-related costs,” the findings showed.
Even with workers and worker groups repeatedly emphasizing the importance of a stable income for platform workers, platforms have been reluctant to publicly commit to, and operationalize a minimum wage policy.
“Secondly, while workers have engaged in various forms of collective action to voice their concerns in the platform economy, platforms have been uncompromisingly unwilling to recognize or negotiate with any collective body representing workers,” the findings showed.
This year, the report was structured around the theme of flexibility, which is often portrayed as a crucial dimension and benefit of platform work.
“The promise of the flexibility of the digital platform economy raises as many questions about livelihoods as it offers opportunities. We hope the report provides the basis for an interpretation of flexibility that allows for not merely the adaptability that platforms seek, but also the income and social security that workers lack”, said Parthasarathy and Janaki Srinivasan, the Principal Investigators of the team.
[With Inputs from IANS]
PGurus is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with all the latest news and views
For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.
- Siddaramaiah govt under NCBC lens after it pushes for Religion-based quota in Karnataka - April 24, 2024
- RBI bans Kotak Mahindra Bank from onboarding new customers via online, mobile banking channels and issuing new credit cards - April 24, 2024
- JP Morgan CEO lauds economic reforms by Modi govt; says PM Modi lifted 400 mn people out of poverty - April 24, 2024
