Gig Workers Go Offline Across India On Monday, Protests To Intensify On Feb 3 | Business News

Last Updated:January 28, 2026, 10:33 IST

Gig and Platform Service Workers Union led a nationwide app switch-off strike in India, highlighting job insecurity, income issues, and safety concerns, with women workers.

While consumers enjoy these services, many are concerned about road safety and driver safety as well. (PTI file for representation)

Gig and platform workers across India staged a nationwide online strike on Monday, January 26, by logging out of their work apps, flagging growing concerns over job security, income uncertainty, and workplace safety in the platform economy. The action marks the first phase of a broader protest plan announced by the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU).

The union said the digital protest will be followed by on-ground demonstrations at multiple locations across the country on February 3.

Workers across platforms join app switch-off

According to GIPSWU, the strike saw participation from workers engaged in ride-hailing services, food and grocery delivery, domestic work, beauty and wellness services, logistics, e-commerce, and other app-based platforms. By switching off their apps simultaneously, workers aimed to draw attention to what they describe as increasing exploitation and lack of basic protections.

Women workers lead protests, flag safety concerns

The ongoing protests are being led largely by women gig and platform workers. The union highlighted that women face distinct challenges in app-based work, including safety risks, lack of dignity at the workplace, and weak legal protection.

GIPSWU alleged that workers often face arbitrary blocking of their IDs, opaque rating systems, unstable incomes, and frequent unilateral changes in work policies. Women workers who raise concerns over fair pay or working conditions are allegedly harassed, sometimes subjected to violence, and later penalised through ID deactivation, cutting off their livelihoods.

Key demands remain unresolved: union

Seema Singh, national president of GIPSWU, said the union has repeatedly approached the central government, but its core demands remain pending. “We are asking for formal recognition of gig and platform workers under a separate central law, a ban on arbitrary ID blocking, transparent rating and work allocation systems, fair income rates, and strong grievance redressal mechanisms, including Internal Complaints Committees,” she said.

Lack of clarity on government policy

The union also questioned recent government announcements related to platform work, pointing out that no formal written orders or clear policy frameworks have been issued so far.

Through the app switch-off and the planned nationwide protests, GIPSWU said workers aim to push both public discourse and government action on long-standing issues in the platform economy.

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