BigBasket, Urban Company, Swiggy, and Zomato have topped the Fairwork India Ratings 2024, each scoring 6 out of 10 points for fair work standards in India’s platform economy. However, the report reveals a trend of ‘de-flexibilisation’ across the sector, with many platforms introducing rigid slot-based work systems that limit worker autonomy.
The sixth annual report evaluated 11 digital labour platforms, placing BluSmart at 5 points, while Amazon Flex and Zepto earned 4 and 2 points respectively. At the bottom, Flipkart scored just 1 point, while Ola, Porter and Uber failed to score any points.
Conducted by researchers at the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore, the study assessed these platforms against five principles: fair pay, fair conditions, fair contracts, fair management, and fair representation. The findings are based on 440 worker interviews conducted across Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram between March and July, with Chennai included for the first time following interest from the Tamil Nadu Planning Commission.
Only BigBasket and Urban Company ensured that workers earn at least the local minimum wage after costs. However, no platform showed that workers earn a living wage. Seven platforms—Amazon Flex, BigBasket, BluSmart, Swiggy, Urban Company, Zepto and Zomato—provided adequate safety equipment and training. Five platforms—BigBasket, Swiggy, Urban Company, Zepto, and Zomato—offered accident insurance at no extra cost to workers.
A major gap in workers’ rights within the gig economy was highlighted by the absence of collective bargaining or formal recognition of workers’ unions across all platforms. The report also pointed out the trend of “de-flexibilisation,” where platforms have adopted rigid slot-based work systems, challenging the flexibility often associated with gig work.
Despite these issues, several platforms have committed to improvements. Swiggy is introducing features to ensure that workers earn at least the hourly minimum wage after costs, potentially benefiting around 400,000 workers. Zomato is launching a management-led channel called ‘Catalyst’ for workers to express collective concerns through fleet managers. BluSmart has introduced accident insurance at no additional cost and has instituted a formal policy to protect workers’ employment status when returning from leave. BigBasket and Amazon have implemented anti-discrimination policies, including measures to block customers who engage in discriminatory behaviour towards workers. Zepto and Zomato are implementing regular external audits of their algorithms to reduce potential biases against workers.
The ratings’ report however emphasised the need for identifying minimum thresholds in platform-worker relationships, noting that providing minimal standards doesn’t necessarily require changing workers’ employment status, as seen in examples from other countries. “Platforms have substantial control over the nature of the jobs that they mediate. There is nothing inevitable about poor working conditions in the platform economy,” said Professor Balaji Parthasarathy, the chief author of the report.
From: financialexpress
Financial News
