Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and Shashi Tharoor call for gig worker rights protection, fair wages, and job security

In an appeal during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Tamil Nadu Congress MP B Manickam Tagore called for urgent legislation to safeguard the rights of gig economy workers. He demanded measures to ensure fair wages, job security, and social benefits for these workers, emphasising their plight as a pressing human rights issue.

Tagore highlighted the struggles of gig workers, particularly those employed by Amazon India, including warehouse staff and delivery personnel. “These workers earn less than Rs 10,000 a month while enduring long hours and immense pressure. Amazon claims to offer provident fund and insurance, but the reality is far from these promises. The ongoing protest during the Black Friday event underscores the inequality in our economy and the exploitation faced by these workers,” he stated.

Describing the issue as more than just a labour concern, the MP from Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, asserted that it was a moral responsibility to advocate for these workers. “We urgently need legislation to protect gig economy workers, ensuring fair wages, job security, and social benefits. This is not merely a labour issue, it is a moral or human rights issue,” Tagore said.

Adding to the discussion, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor urged Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to prioritise strict implementation of laws regulating work hours to promote a better work-life balance. Citing the death of Anna Sebastian, a young chartered accountant at a leading firm hailing from Kerala, Tharoor said, “The absence of work-life balance and humane working conditions has led to untimely deaths of professionals across the country.”

Tharoor shared his meeting with Sebastian’s grieving parents, highlighting their anguish and their appeal to prevent similar tragedies for other families. “These tragedies reflect a systemic failure, and we must safeguard the well-being of professionals who are instrumental in driving our nation’s prosperity. We must prioritise the implementation of laws for strict working hours,” he added.