Overview
- India’s Federation of App-Based Transport Workers asked the Labour Ministry to add enforceable heat safeguards for gig workers under the Code on Social Security, 2020.
- IFAT’s plan seeks paid cooling breaks during India Meteorological Department orange and red alerts, plus protection from penalties such as ID blocks or reduced incentives when workers pause for safety.
- It calls for basic support on the job, including safe drinking water, oral rehydration salts, and access to cooling shelters during shifts.
- The federation also proposes in‑app emergency distress tools and public compliance dashboards to track whether platform companies follow the rules.
- Coverage cites severe temperatures, including about 45°C in Delhi, and notes IFAT’s use of examples from South Korea, Singapore, France, Japan, the UAE, and California to show that similar safeguards are workable, with no government response reported yet.