Worker-owned Uber and Snabbit? India faces up to the grim reality of gig labour
The post Worker-owned Uber and Snabbit? India faces up to the grim reality of gig labour appeared first on The Ken .
India is grappling with the harsh reality of gig workers, as the government explores cooperatives to improve their situation. Sushil, a long-time taxi driver, believes he can secure a share in Bharat Taxi, a cooperative launched by the home minister in February. The platform, which has onboarded nearly 800,000 drivers across seven cities, aims to return 80% of its profits to drivers.
However, the cooperative is still in its infancy, clocking around 11,000 rides per day, a figure that barely surpasses one ride per 76 drivers daily. Profit-sharing will only commence once the company achieves profitability, a target no ride-hailing platform has achieved yet. Despite the government's innovative approach, ride-hailing companies have struggled to turn a profit, with Uber losing Rs 1,400 crore, Ola Rs 660 crore, and Rapido Rs 260 crore in the fiscal year 2025.
The government's initiative aligns with the National Cooperation Policy, 2025, which encourages cooperatives to enter emerging sectors like water distribution, biogas, waste management, transportation, and even quick-service companies like Instahelp and Snabbit.
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