Unions condemn platforms’ challenge to Karnataka Gig Workers Welfare Act

The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) and Karnataka App-Based Workers Union (KAWU) have strongly condemned the decision of platform companies, including Swiggy, Zepto, Zomato and Urban Company, and the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), to challenge the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025, before the Karnataka High Court. 

“The legal challenge mounted by platform companies against the Karnataka Gig Workers Welfare Act is an unfortunate attempt to deny millions of gig and platform workers their basic rights to social security, welfare, and dignified working conditions. The digital economy cannot be built on exploitation and insecurity,” said Shaik Salauddin, co-founder and national general secretary of (IFAT), reacting to the development. 

According to the petitioners, the State law is repugnant to the Centre’s Code on Social Security (COSS), 2020, which already establishes a uniform national framework for gig worker welfare.   

Mr. Salauddin, however, termed this as a “misrepresentation of the intent and content of the law”.

“The Karnataka law only supplements and does not replace the COSS. The reality is that gig workers across India continue to remain without adequate social protection despite years of promises. States have both the constitutional authority and moral responsibility to protect workers from exploitation and fill these gaps,” he said. 

He further stressed that the global labour community has already recognised the urgent need to protect platform workers through ILO Convention No. 193 (C193), the international labour standard dedicated to workers in the platform economy. 

IFAT and KAWU called upon platform companies to withdraw their challenge and engage in meaningful dialogue with workers’ organisations and governments to create a fair and sustainable platform economy. 

“Any attempt to weaken protections for gig workers is contrary to the principles of social justice and the growing international consensus on decent work in the platform economy. India’s digital future must be built on fairness, dignity, and social protection for workers,“ said Inayath Ali, president, KAWU.