BigBasket tops Fairwork index for gig workers

The Fairwork India Team, led by the Centre for IT and Public Policy (CITAPP) at the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B), assessed 12 digital platforms in India to gauge their adherence to fair work principles for gig workers. The report revealed significant disparities in fair pay, conditions, contracts, management, and representation among these platforms.

1. Fair Pay

• Leaders: BigBasket, Flipkart, Urban Company
• Policy: Only BigBasket, Flipkart, and Urban Company implemented a minimum wage policy ensuring workers earn the local hourly minimum wage after accounting for work-related costs.

2. Fair Conditions

• Safety Measures: Amazon Flex, BigBasket, BluSmart, Flipkart, Swiggy, Urban Company, Uber, Zepto, Zomato offered safety equipment and periodic training.
• Insurance: BigBasket, Swiggy, Urban Company, Zepto, and Zomato provided accident insurance and compensation for income loss due to medical reasons.

3. Fair Contracts

• Transparent Contracts: Seven platforms (BigBasket, BluSmart, Dunzo, Swiggy, Urban Company, Zepto, Zomato) ensured accessible and comprehensible contracts.

4. Fair Management

• Fair Decision Process: Amazon Flex, BigBasket, BluSmart, Flipkart, Swiggy, Zomato exhibited fair management principles.
• Anti-Bias Measures: BluSmart and Swiggy conducted external audits to detect biases in work allocation systems, along with anti-discrimination policies.

5. Fair Representation

• Collective Recognition: None of the platforms demonstrated willingness to recognize collective worker bodies, leading to all 12 platforms scoring zero in fair representation.

Worst Performers

• Lowest Scores: Ola, Porter, Uber, Dunzo, Amazon Flex, Flipkart scored poorly, with Ola and Porter receiving zero points in the Fairwork India Ratings 2023.

Find More Ranks and Reports Here