Over 40 delegates belonging to app-based transport worker unions across South Asia and other international organisations had critical discussions surrounding the organisational hurdles confronting platform workers, in Colombo last week.
Chief among these concerns were issues of exploitation and the absence of social protection in unregulated working environments.
The South Asia convention was a part of the second global conference of the International Alliance of App Based Transport Workers (IAATW) in Colombo from February 22 to 25.
In the past five years, there has been a rapid increase in the number of people working on digital platforms, fuelled by the recession caused by the Covid pandemic, which has in a way institutionalised temporary employment.
Platform workers in South Asian countries operate in a largely unregulated environment, which leaves them vulnerable to exploitation. Most of these jobs are in the lower-income categories, including deliveries, ridesharing, micro tasks, care, and wellness services.
In the absence of proper jobs and large-scale unemployment, this is the only available means to earn a livelihood.
The primary objective of the event is to ignite collective action among unions, fostering a unified front to advocate for fundamental rights and dignified treatment of gig and platform workers throughout South Asia.
Throughout the interaction, participants exchanged insights and best practices, pooling their collective wisdom to craft a comprehensive statement on the “Way Forward for South Asian Unions.”
The conference will permit positioning the alliance to drive substantive change for platform workers across the region.
The delegates identified building up the organisation in the region, building a South Asia regional chapter of the IAATW, and larger coalitions to build regional and global solidarity and undertake strengthening joint action as their key focus areas for the future.
The event was supported by the Solidarity Centre.
