Gig workers feel pinch of fuel price hike; union demands higher pay

Bengaluru: The sharp rise in petrol and diesel prices in the city has sparked growing concern among gig workers, many of whom say their earnings are no longer sufficient to cover daily expenses. With fuel prices climbing by nearly Rs 4.5 per litre within a week — and further hikes expected — delivery partners and bike-taxi riders are demanding higher base payouts from app-based companies to cope with mounting fuel costs.

Petrol prices in the city currently stand at Rs 107.12 per litre, after another Re 1 increase announced Tuesday. Gig workers, who spend long hours on the road every day, say the hikes are severely affecting their already unstable income.

Abhishek, a bike-taxi rider, said the continuous rise in fuel prices has made it difficult for workers to survive on their current earnings. “Within a week, fuel prices have been hiked twice, and there are reports that prices will be raised further. Every day, I spend close to Rs 500 on fuel, apart from what I have to spend on food while I am out on the road. I work close to 10 hours. There has been a sharp increase in living costs, but my earnings have remained the same. Rising fuel prices will result in more burden, and taking home Rs 1,000 would be difficult,” he said.

Workers say incentives offered by platforms are no longer attractive as more people have joined food delivery and bike-taxi services over the years. Gautami Krishnapati, a gig worker, said: “Long-time workers feel that earnings have not improved. It is becoming difficult to earn more with the rise in fuel prices and living costs,” she said. According to reports, the city has over 12 lakh gig workers engaged in bike taxi, food delivery, e-commerce and parcel delivery services.

Geetha P, a delivery partner with a gift portal platform who also works for Rapido, said her fuel expenses have increased sharply in recent weeks. “My daily fuel costs have jumped from around Rs 300 to nearly Rs 450, while my earnings remain between Rs 800 and Rs 1,000 a day,” she said.

The United Food Delivery Partners’ Union has demanded an immediate rollback of fuel price hikes and a revision in base payouts for gig workers. Krishna, secretary of the union, said workers are being forced to absorb rising operational costs while app-based companies continue to expand their businesses. “Gig workers who struggle every day with long working hours, heat, unstable earnings, low incentives and rising maintenance costs are now burdened with fuel prices. While app-based delivery companies continue to expand their business and profits, the workers are being left to absorb the losses,” he alleged.

--Nyasa Gupta