Synopsis
App-based transport workers are demanding mandatory heatwave protection, including paid breaks and access to water, under the Code on Social Security, 2020. The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) has urged the government to implement these measures, citing similar protections in other countries. This comes as heatwaves intensify and companies face potential rider shortages.Listen to this article in summarized format
The body’s demands include paid cooling breaks, protection from delayed delivery penalties, access to drinking water, heat distress support, heat alerts along with adjustable work timings.
As heatwaves become frequent this summer, the body has requested the government to mandate these for workers across delivery, ride-hailing, and home services segments. Companies like Swiggy, Eternal, Zepto, FirstClub, Urban Company, Snabbit, Pronto, and others have a large number of riders and gig workers with them.
“Heat protection is a basic human right of millions of workers powering the platform economy. We want this issue to be looked at through a human lens,” said Shaik Salauddin, national general secretary, IFAT, adding that countries like South Korea, Singapore, France, and Japan have such protections and India should follow.
Meanwhile, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) has launched a 'glass of water campaign' online, urging customers to provide water to delivery persons.
Typically, during summers, food delivery and quick commerce services face a rider crunch as gig workers return to their villages. ET reported in March that food and grocery delivery platforms were bracing for a surge in demand during the summer and the busy IPL season. However, forecasting rider availability has been unusually difficult this year due to elections, the heat, and LPG crisis caused by the war in the middle east.
IFAT and TGPWU are active in voicing the issues of platform-based gig workers. During the last week of December of 2025, the unions called for a nationwide strike demanding safe work conditions and removal of the 10-minute promise.
In January 2026, quick commerce companies such as Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy’s Instamart removed their 10-minute delivery pledges from their platforms after labour and employment minister Mansukh Mandavia told them to drop this from their branding.
