Gig workers’ union welcomes Union Home Minister-announced Sahkar Taxi

Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union supports 'Sahkar Taxi', a cooperative ride-hailing service for fair worker conditions.

The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU) welcomed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement of ‘Sahkar Taxi’, a cooperative-based ride-hailing service.

According to TGPWU’s Shaik Salauddin, the move is intended to do away with intermediaries and ensure fair earnings for drivers. He said that empowering workers is the need of the hour, especially in gig work.

He said that the Union has always worked for worker-owned collective structures that allow drivers and delivery workers to operate independently of exploitative platform models. A majority of workers have expressed interest in joining a cooperative society, he said.

“We urge the government to ensure the swift and effective implementation of this initiative. Gig and platform workers have suffered from exploitative conditions for too long. A cooperative model can provide a fair alternative—one where workers set their own terms and benefit directly from their labor. We also call for the inclusion of existing worker unions and collectives in shaping the cooperative framework,” Mr. Salauddin said.

TGPWU will closely monitor the rollout of ‘Sahkar Taxi’ and engage with the government, he added.