Nationwide app-based transport workers’ strike today:Protest against decreasing earnings and exploitation; Ola, Uber Rapido services affected

App-based transport workers (gig workers) will observe a strike across the country on Saturday. The strike was announced by Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU), and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) have announced this strike. This is being done in protest against declining earnings, increasing exploitation, and the government’s failure to set a minimum base fare. Drivers and workers associated with Ola, Uber, Rapido, Porter, and other app-based transport services will participate in the strike. Unions say that services may be affected during this period.
Anger over not setting a base fare According to the unions, despite the existence of Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines-2025, the central and state governments have not yet notified the minimum base fare. Taking advantage of this, aggregator companies are arbitrarily setting fares. The unions allege that companies are continuously reducing fares, while all operational risks have been shifted to the drivers. This is increasing working hours, but their earnings are continuously decreasing. Sheikh Sallauddin, Founder President of TGPWU, Co-founder of IFAT, and National General Secretary, stated that consultation with recognized unions is mandatory before setting fares in Guidelines-2025, but due to government inaction, platform companies are increasing exploitation.
Gig workers went on strike on December 31 Earlier, delivery workers associated with IFAT had also gone on a nationwide strike on December 31, 2025. At that time, the protest was against 10-minute delivery, low wages, poor working conditions, and a lack of social security. It included riders from companies like Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, and Zepto. After the strike, these platforms removed the ’10-minute delivery’ claim from their branding. Now, they are only using phrases like ‘delivery in minutes’ on the app. An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP, in a conversation with ANI, said that big companies are earning profits due to the hard work of Swiggy-Zomato delivery boys, Blinkit-Zepto riders, and Ola-Uber drivers, but in this entire ecosystem, gig workers face the most pressure and exploitation.