Gig workers write to govt for heatwave safeguards

Monday, April 27, 2026

The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) has called on the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment to mandate protections like paid cooling breaks, access to water, and emergency support for gig workers during extreme heat alerts. With India’s gig workforce growing to around 12 million and facing increased heatwave risks, IFAT argues that legally binding standards are essential to safeguard these vulnerable workers' health and working conditions.

The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) has urged the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment to establish mandatory protections for gig and platform workers during extreme heat events. In a letter dated April 21, the federation called for enforceable measures including paid cooling breaks when the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues red or orange heat alerts, guaranteed access to drinking water and cooling shelters, and in-app emergency support systems tailored to heat-related distress.

IFAT’s correspondence highlights the need to transform the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) current heatwave advisory into binding minimum standards applicable to all service aggregators and across regions affected by heatwaves. The federation points to the Code on Social Security, 2020, which formally recognizes gig and platform workers and empowers the central government to institute welfare schemes for this workforce. IFAT proposes integrating heatwave protections within this framework as scheme-linked entitlements, with clearly defined obligations for platform operators.

The federation also referenced the draft Social Security Code (Central) Rules, 2025, which mandate periodic data disclosure on gig workers by platforms. They suggest such data could facilitate monitoring compliance and enable evidence-based policymaking around worker protections.

India’s gig workforce has expanded significantly in recent years. According to the Economic Survey 2025-26, the sector grew from 7.7 million workers in fiscal year 2021 to approximately 12 million in fiscal year 2025, reflecting a 55 percent rise. This growth underscores the urgency of establishing robust safeguards amid increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves in the country.

The IFAT’s appeal reflects broader concerns about the vulnerability of gig workers, who often lack access to traditional labor protections and must operate in outdoor or exposed environments during harsh weather. The federation’s push for statutory heatwave protections aims to improve working conditions and safeguard health amid rising climate risks. The government has yet to respond publicly to the federation’s request.