Delhi survey: Nearly three-fourths of gig workers feel unsafe on roads

For delivery riders and app-based drivers in Delhi, the road is also their workplace. Nearly three-fourths of gig workers surveyed in the city said they felt unsafe while travelling for work, while 5% said they felt safe.

Janpahal NGO and the Gig Workers Association of India surveyed food and grocery delivery workers, ride-hailing drivers, e-commerce delivery staff, and people providing household or personal-care services across 10 cities. Among Delhi respondents, more than four in five said they had experienced a near-miss with another vehicle. More than half reported injuries they linked to road conditions, and over a third said they had been involved in a traffic accident.

The most commonly reported work week was 49 to 70 hours. More than half of Delhi respondents said they had experienced harassment, abuse or violence at work. About 97% said safety training was absent or inadequate, while 81% said they lacked confidence in platform channels for reporting safety concerns.

Most respondents said they had worked in extreme heat, and 89% said their platform had no policy for extreme weather. The report recommends that platforms provide safety training, insurance, grievance systems, basic facilities and climate safeguards.