Gig workers battle shrinking earnings, soaring expenses

Patna: For thousands of gig workers and delivery partners in Patna, the recent rise in petrol prices has become a direct threat to their survival, sharply reducing already modest daily earnings.

Petrol prices have increased twice within a month, forcing delivery workers to bear higher fuel expenses without any increase in commissions from app-based platforms.

Many workers said the rising costs were making it increasingly difficult to manage rent, food and other daily expenses.

“I am from Motihari and rent in Patna alone costs me Rs 8,000. If I work nonstop for 16 hours a day, only then do I get paid approximately Rs 1,000 in a day,” said Bhushan Yadav.

“There is no point in protesting because we end up losing a day’s wage and no change happens, so we succumb to our circumstances,” he added.

Delivery workers said fuel and food expenses now consume nearly half of their daily income.

“I need to fill almost three litres of petrol daily, which now costs around Rs 325,” Bharat Kumar said. “This, in addition to the food we have to buy while on duty, takes away Rs 500 of our Rs 1,000-per-day earnings,” he added.

Some workers considered shifting to bicycles to reduce fuel expenses, but said the option was impractical in extreme summer conditions and affected delivery speed.

“After the fuel hike, a lot of us thought of shifting to cycles, but it is too hot, and it takes almost thrice the time to make one delivery on a cycle in comparison with the bike,” Ravi Raj said.

Dheeraj Kumar echoed similar concerns. “By the time I can complete one delivery on a cycle, I will complete three on a bike,” he said.

All India Gig and Platform Workers Union (AIGPWU) national chairman Chandraprakash Singh said the burden of inflation was falling entirely on workers while companies continued paying stagnant commissions.

“Price of fuel has increased, which directly impacts the workers and the delivery boys; it does not impact the owners, but the commission stays stagnant,” Singh said.

AIGPWU national president Sanjay Gaba alleged workers feared retaliation for joining protests or union activities.

“If the management gets to know that a certain worker is planning to meet with the union or plans on going on a strike, then their IDs get blocked permanently from the company,” Gaba said.