Bhubaneswar, Aug 1: With online delivery platforms intensifying their race to provide ultra-fast services, the Odisha government is taking steps to safeguard the lives of gig workers exposed to mounting road hazards. The state is planning to initiate dedicated training programmes on road safety and emergency response for delivery partners working with various aggregators.
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In response to concerns raised by the Labour and ESI Department, the Commerce and Transport Department has directed the Transport Commissioner to devise a concrete action plan. The move seeks to establish enforceable safety protocols that platform companies such as Blinkit, Swiggy, Zomato, BigBasket, and JioMart must implement to protect their workforce.
Transport Minister Bibhuti Jena stressed the importance of equal enforcement of road safety laws. “Speed limits and traffic norms are universal. No one is above the law. The current trend of racing to meet delivery deadlines can be dangerous not only for delivery personnel but for all road users,” he said.
Activists and stakeholders have long expressed concerns that delivery personnel-particularly those on two-wheelers and bicycles-face frequent exposure to road accidents, injuries, and traffic mishaps. Often required to make deliveries under time pressure during peak hours or adverse weather, many ride without essential safety gear like helmets, knee pads, or reflective jackets.
In the pursuit of speed, basic road safety practices are frequently compromised. A senior Transport Department official observed, “It’s not uncommon to see delivery agents jumping signals or riding dangerously. We must act now to ensure that safety is not sacrificed at the altar of speed.”
The complainant to the PMO also highlighted other challenges delivery workers face, including lack of insurance coverage, health benefits, and harassment from customers, traffic officials, or in risky areas during late-night deliveries.
While there’s no exact figure on the number of gig workers in the state today, official data suggests that over 52,000 individuals were employed in this sector in Odisha by 2021. Given the proliferation of food and e-commerce platforms, that number has likely surged in recent years.
The Labour Department has been requested to conduct road safety awareness and emergency response workshops to educate gig workers on safe practices while ensuring their rights are protected.
Meanwhile, the Central Government has urged all states to reassess the stringent delivery deadlines set by platforms. It has underlined the need for companies to avoid placing unrealistic time pressures on workers, which could endanger their lives and public safety.
As gig work becomes an indispensable part of the urban economy, Odisha's proactive move aims to strike a balance between customer convenience and worker safety, sending a clear message: speed should never come at the cost of lives.
