Transport workers demand government intervention as unions cite income insecurity and unregulated pricing structure
Cab drivers across India staged a nationwide strike on February 7, 2026, halting services for Uber, Ola, Rapido, and Porter in protest against what they describe as systemic exploitation. The “All India Breakdown,” organized by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union and allied groups, highlights critical grievances affecting millions of gig economy workers.
The strike centers on three core demands. First, drivers are calling for immediate implementation of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, which mandate regulatory oversight to ensure fare transparency. Second, they demand government-notified minimum base fares developed in consultation with worker unions, similar to existing regulations for traditional taxis. Third, they seek prohibition of private vehicles for commercial use or mandatory conversion to commercial registration.
In their letter to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, the unions emphasized that platform companies unilaterally set fares without government regulation, creating severe income insecurity. The drivers argue that while aggregators profit substantially, workers have been pushed into poverty under unsustainable working conditions.
This action follows a similar strike by food delivery workers in late December 2025, which successfully pressured platforms to discontinue advertising ultra-fast delivery times.
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