Rahul Gandhi hails Karnataka's gig workers' welfare ordinance
Bengaluru/New Delhi: Congress MP and opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, Thursday lauded the state govt's decision to promulgate an ordinance establishing a social security board for platform-based gig workers, calling it a "historic step" that reflects the party's vision for workers' rights across the country.
Referring to slogans he heard during his nationwide march, Rahul, in a post on X, said: "'Rating nahi, haq chaahiye'. 'Insaan hai hum, ghulaam nahi'. These powerful words from gig workers stayed with me during the Bharat Jodo Yatra."
He went on to say: "Our Congress govt in Karnataka has taken a historic step by issuing an ordinance that guarantees rights, dignity, and protection to gig workers... These workers bring us food, deliver essentials, and drive us safely — in the heat, cold, and rain."
Pointing to exploitative conditions gig workers face, he said: "Yet, they are too often blocked from their apps without explanation, denied sick leave, and paid according to opaque algorithms. We are changing that."
Rahul said the new ordinance ensures social security, fair contracts, transparency in algorithmic pay, and an end to arbitrary blocking. "This is how technology should serve people — driving innovation and justice.
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Rajasthan showed the way. Karnataka has acted. Telangana is next."
In Bengaluru, Karnataka labour minister Santosh Lad expressed gratitude to governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot for swiftly approving the ordinance, and credited Rahul for bringing the issue to the forefront. After leading a delegation of gig workers to felicitate the governor, Lad said: "Today, the vision of our leader Rahul Gandhi has been realised.
We thank the governor for passing the ordinance within a day of it being sent to Raj Bhavan.
"
He said platforms which use services of gig workers to "further their profits" must consider the welfare of these employees "who inhale carbon dioxide day in and day out". "I am not going to blame anyone, but it is important to consider the social security of these workers," he said.
However, while praising Gehlot for his prompt action, Lad also criticised Raj Bhavan over delays in approving other bills.
"It is only in non-BJP governed states that Raj Bhavans withhold assent for bills," Lad said. "In BJP-governed states such actions are unheard of. Our youngsters need to understand the consequences of such actions, why there is a debate on Article 142 in the country and why courts are intervening in such matters.
"
The ordinance paves the way for the establishment of a Gig Workers Welfare Board, expected to be a first-of-its-kind step towards regulating platform-based work and providing structured protection to lakhs of delivery partners, drivers, and other on-demand workers in the state.
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