In News:

The Fairwork India Ratings 2024 report, which analyses the work conditions of platform workers on digital labour platforms in India, draws a picture of aggregators who are non-committal to ensuring that workers earn the local living wage and unwilling to recognise collectivisation of workers.

Key Findings:

• Overall Performance: No platform scored above six out of ten, and none achieved top points across the five assessed principles: Fair Pay, Fair Conditions, Fair Contracts, Fair Management, and Fair Representation.
• Study Background: This report is the sixth annual analysis conducted by the Fairwork India Team, in collaboration with the Centre for IT and Public Policy (CITAPP), IIIT-Bangalore, and Oxford University.

Analysis of Welfare Legislation

• The report discusses the evolving nature of platform work and its implications for proposed legislation affecting gig workers in Karnataka and Jharkhand.
• Political interest in gig workers' welfare has increased, but the effectiveness of these initiatives remains uncertain.
• Professors Balaji Parthasarathy and Janaki Srinivasan highlight the importance of ongoing research and advocacy for improving gig worker conditions.

Methodology

• Principles of Assessment: Platforms were evaluated based on five principles, each consisting of two points—one that could only be awarded if the first point was fulfilled.
• Data Collection: Worker interviews were conducted across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram.
• Platforms Analyzed: The study included 11 platforms from various sectors, such as logistics, food delivery, and personal care.

Detailed Findings by Principle

Fair Pay

• First Point: Bigbasket and Urban Company were recognized for implementing a minimum wage policy ensuring workers earn at least the local minimum wage.
• Second Point: No platform met the criteria for committing to a local living wage after work-related costs.

Fair Conditions

• First Point: Platforms such as Amazon Flex, BigBasket, and Swiggy provided adequate safety equipment and training.
• Second Point: BigBasket, Swiggy, Urban Company, Zepto, and Zomato offered additional protections, including accident insurance and compensation for medical-related work absences.

Fair Contracts

• First Point: BigBasket, BluSmart, and others ensured contract accessibility and data protection protocols.

Fair Management

• First Point: Amazon Flex, BigBasket, and several others provided due process in disciplinary decisions.
• Second Point: BluSmart, Swiggy, Urban Company, and Zomato were noted for regular external audits and anti-discrimination policies.

Fair Representation

• Despite increased collectivization efforts among platform workers, no platform showed a willingness to recognize collective bodies, underscoring a critical gap in worker representation.

Conclusion

The Fairwork India Ratings 2024 report highlights significant challenges in ensuring fair work conditions for platform workers in India, stressing the need for continuous advocacy and reform in the gig economy.