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Gig workers in Telangana will go on an indefinite strike starting August 8 over multiple demands, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) has announced. The union is seeking talks with government officials over three main demands.
Shaik Salauddin, founder-president of TGPWU, said the first demand is for the state government to fix reasonable base fares per kilometre and per minute, along with a minimum basic charge, for all app-based workers, including cab drivers, auto drivers, and delivery workers.
The union has also demanded that, as per the Telangana Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2026, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Rules be notified immediately and a Welfare Board be constituted. Minimum fares should also be incorporated into the Rules, Salauddin said, noting that rising fuel prices and reduced mileage due to E20 fuel have affected gig workers.
The third demand is for the government to officially notify minimum basic fares in accordance with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, putting an end to the practice of platform companies unilaterally determining fares. Salauddin also said the government must regulate app-based transport services to ensure that ride-hailing or carpooling services are not operated using vehicles with white number plates, which are meant only for personal use.
“This is not merely a struggle for fair income. it is a movement for the dignity, livelihoods, and social security of lakhs of gig and platform workers,” the TGPWU said.
Earlier, on July 22, TGPWU had called for a flash strike by gig workers over similar demands. Salauddin said that more than 3.9 lakh workers participated in the flash strike, making it a success.
Several unions and organisations, including the Telangana App-Based Drivers Forum (TADF), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), and others, are expected to join the strike.
