(Representative image) Delhi’s gig workers face significant road safety risks daily
Delhi-specific data shows how exposed workers who spend much of their working day on the road are to occupational risks While the study covers 10 cities. Nearly three-fourths of respondents said they felt unsafe while travelling on the roads for work, while only 5% said they felt safe. The survey found 76% frequently or very frequently encountered unsafe conditions while working. The most common working duration reported was 49 to 70 hours a week. Customer harassment or behaviour accounted for 30% of reported incidents. More than half of the respondents said they had personally experienced harassment, abuse or violence while working, while another 16% had witnessed it happening to another worker. About 97% said they either received no safety training or found it insufficient. Only 1% said their platform provided comprehensive safety training or resources. As many as 81% were not confident their platforms had effective channels to report safety concerns and ensure follow-up. More than half said they received no health support, while 92% reported having no health insurance or not having claimed it. nine in 10 had worked in extreme cold, and 64% had worked during heavy rain or thunderstorms While 98% of respondents said they had worked in extreme heat. For 86%, extreme weather had a moderate to major impact on their ability to work safely. Nearly 89% said their platforms provided no policy for working during extreme weather. Almost all respondents reported musculoskeletal problems such as back or neck pain, while 97% reported fatigue or sleep disruption. Dehydration was reported by nearly 89%, heat exhaustion by almost 79% and heat stroke or severe overheating by about 76%. Among those who had access, 75% said they used paid public toilets.
Because it examines issues that are often overlooked: “Protecting workers must go beyond accident prevention, a gig not to be envious Dharmendra Kumar, secretary of Janpahal, said the survey is important. More than half said they had suffered an injury due to road conditions, while over a third reported having been involved in a traffic accident. More than four in five respondents said they had experienced a near-miss with another vehicle, making it the most commonly reported incident. Workers reported changing routes, wearing weather-appropriate gear and cutting down their working hours to cope. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in Delhi Stay updated with the latest Delhi news.
The “Occupational Safety and Health of Platform-based Gig Workers in India: Report on a Nationwide Survey”, conducted by Janpahal NGO and Gig Workers Association of India and released Thursday, examined the working conditions of food and grocery delivery workers, ride-hailing drivers, e-commerce delivery personnel and workers engaged in household and personal care services. For those paid according to trips or deliveries, however, spending fewer hours on the road can also mean fewer rupees at the end of the day. One-third of respondents said they rarely or never used toilet facilities during working hours.
NEW DELHI: The delivery rider rushing past a red light, the bike weaving between cars, the cab driver stuck in traffic with another trip waiting on the app. For Delhi’s gig workers, the city’s roads are not just the route to work; they are the workplace. And very often, a hazardous one. Extreme heat and lightning also need to be recognised as occupational safety and health risks. The risks went well beyond a close call at a traffic signal. For workers who spend hours riding or driving through the city, potholes, speeding vehicles and chaotic traffic are not occasional inconveniences, but occupational hazards. The pressure is compounded by long working hours. The risks do not end on the road. Yet the safety net for workers appears thin. When something does go wrong, workers are also unsure where to turn. Delhi’s weather adds another layer to the risks. When the temperature soars, the orders don’t stop. The weather left a mark on health too. Even basic workplace needs, such as finding a toilet during a long shift, can be a challenge. The report seeks stronger rights and safety protections for gig workers, including basic facilities, climate safeguards, worker participation, safety training, grievance redressal and insurance, while urging greater accountability from digital platforms. Download the TOI App.
