Telangana’s gig worker legislation received public support from platform workers during a motorcycle rally in Hyderabad that saw Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi ride pillion on a scooter driven by a part-time woman rider on Saturday.
Lalitha, a staff nurse who works part-time as a pink bike rider to supplement her income, drove the scooter carrying Rahul Gandhi during the rally. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy accompanied them during the ride, which began at Shilparamam and formed part of a public event involving hundreds of gig workers.
Lalitha, who is originally from Kurnool, described the experience as memorable and welcomed the state government’s legislation aimed at protecting gig workers. She said her experience as a woman working in the gig economy had exposed her to the difficulties faced by workers in the sector.
“As a woman working in the gig economy, I know the difficulties we face. The legislation brings much-needed benefits and recognition to workers like us. I am extremely happy that Rahul Gandhi rode on my bike. I thank CM Revanth Reddy and the government for fulfilling their promises,” she said.
The event placed platform-based work within a wider discussion on urban livelihoods. Gig workers serve cities through services such as deliveries and app-based transport, but their employment conditions are shaped largely by digital platforms and the rules governing access to work. The report did not specify the detailed provisions, implementation arrangements or enforcement mechanism under the Telangana legislation.
Other workers at the rally also welcomed the move, particularly its stated focus on recognition and social security benefits. Their response reflected the importance of ensuring that any new protection framework covers workers across different platforms rather than limiting benefits to employees of a particular company.
Mahesh A., a delivery worker from Karwan, said the government should ensure that the benefits reach every gig worker, irrespective of the platform for which they work. He also called for rules preventing companies from removing workers from their platforms without giving proper reasons.
“We welcome the move by the government. But rules should also be framed in a way that companies cannot remove workers from their platforms without assigning proper reasons,” he said.
The motorcycle rally started at Shilparamam and passed through the HITEX Metal Charminar arch before concluding at Jayabheri Grounds. Rahul Gandhi, Revanth Reddy, ministers, legislators and hundreds of gig workers took part in the rally, after which the leaders attended a public meeting.
The next stage for the legislation will depend on the rules and administrative processes through which its proposed protections and benefits are delivered. The supplied report does not provide a timeline for implementation or details of the agencies responsible for enforcing the framework.
