Gig Workers Form Nation’s Foundation: Rahul Gandhi

1. RG, Revanth Join Gig Workers’ Bike Rally
2. Rahul Gandhi and Telangana Revanth participated in a bike rally organised by gig workers
3. The rally, which saw hundreds of delivery and ride-hailing workers on scooters, moved through key city stretches and culminated at Jayabheri Grounds.
4. Rahul rode pillion on a scooter driven by a female gig worker, while Revanth also joined the procession on a two-wheeler. 

metro india news  I hyderabad

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched the Telangana Gig Workers Social Security and Welfare Scheme in Hyderabad, describing gig workers as the foundation of the country and partners in its progress. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, several Cabinet ministers and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud joined him at the event at Jayabheri Grounds following a bike rally in which both leaders rode pillion with gig workers.

Addressing a large gathering of platform-based workers, Gandhi highlighted the centrality of data in the 21st century. Companies such as Google, Facebook, WhatsApp and Uber operate on data, he noted, yet Indian gig workers have long lacked access to their own information on the work they perform, the number of deliveries or rides completed, the time taken and the earnings received. The new Telangana legislation, he said, guarantees them the right to this data, which will be available on their mobile phones. The state government stands behind this assurance.

Rahul Gandhi recalled an earlier meeting with Telangana gig workers in which they shared their hardships. He, the Congress party and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had promised support, security and protection. “Today we are fulfilling that promise,” he declared.

He pointed out that gig workers spend entire days riding scooters under the sun delivering goods across cities without dedicated places to rest. The Telangana government is therefore constructing Wi-Fi-enabled rest zones, known as rest zones or Gig Stops, first in Hyderabad and then across all cities in the state. Workers will be able to park their vehicles, sit, relax and take breaks at these facilities. Several such centres have already been set up with seating, charging points, washrooms and parking.

On the risks workers face, Gandhi said any accident or illness can leave them unable to work and plunge their families into crisis. The scheme therefore provides every registered gig worker with accident insurance of Rs 5 lakh and health insurance of Rs 10 lakh. The government also guarantees a social security contribution: one per cent of every transaction—whether an Uber ride, Blinkit delivery or any other platform service—will be deposited with the Telangana Gig Workers Board and then transferred directly into the workers’ bank accounts for their future security and pension needs. 

Companies operating in the state must comply with this requirement.

Rahul Gandhi framed the initiative as a clash of two ideologies. One, associated with the BJP and RSS, seeks to treat gig workers as bonded labourers who toil long hours, suffer injuries and remain without fair returns while profits flow to billionaires and platform companies. The other, the Congress ideology, regards workers as partners and the foundation of the nation. The Telangana government, he said, is providing insurance, rest facilities, data rights and a share of every transaction to treat them as partners. “Do not be afraid. The Telangana government, Rahul Gandhi, Revanth Reddy and the entire Congress party stand with you. We will make you partners and take responsibility for the education and health of your families to the fullest extent possible,” he assured the gathering. He thanked the workers for their full support.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said the Congress government in Telangana had fulfilled the commitment Rahul Gandhi made to gig workers during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. During that 4,000-km journey, workers in Hyderabad had met Gandhi and spoken of the absence of social security, income protection and legal recognition. Gandhi had assured them that a Congress government would enact special legislation. That promise, the Chief Minister said, has been kept with the Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2026, described as the first of its kind in the country. The formal launch of its implementation on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru carried special significance.

Revanth Reddy announced that a dedicated Gig Workers’ Welfare Board would be established. Eligible workers will receive identity cards and unique identification numbers, giving them official recognition and access to benefits. He confirmed the insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh for accidents and up to Rs 10 lakh for health under the Aarogyasri scheme, along with structured mechanisms for rights protection, welfare and income security. The Chief Minister stressed that the legislation provides legal safeguards against arbitrary termination, requires timely payments and ensures safer working conditions.

Other leaders present, including Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka and ministers, echoed the government’s resolve to extend formal recognition and protection to a workforce that powers urban delivery and mobility services. Guidelines for the scheme were released at the event, and the leaders reiterated that companies must route the one-per-cent contribution through the board.

The scheme covers platform-based workers across ride-hailing, food and grocery delivery and similar services. By combining data rights, insurance, rest infrastructure, identity recognition and a direct share of transaction value, Telangana has put in place a comprehensive framework aimed at treating gig workers as partners rather than disposable labour. Gandhi closed by reaffirming that the workers need not worry; the state government and the Congress party remain fully behind them.

Gig Workers Welcomes New Rules

The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union welcomed the launch of the 2026 gig workers' rules, calling it a victory after a decade-long struggle. The rules guarantee 12 rights, including social security, minimum wages, payment transparency, workplace safety and protection against arbitrary deactivation.

A rally demonstrated workers' unity despite platforms offering incentives to discourage participation. 

The Union said the rally demonstrated workers’ collective strength despite platforms offering incentives to discourage participation. It termed the National Social Security Board, notified on October 30, 2026, inadequate without enforceable rights. It urged Telangana to implement the rules, activate the Welfare Board and Fund, and hold aggregators accountable, while seeking comprehensive national legislation based on progressive State laws.

-Shaik Salauddin Founder President Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU)