Rana Irfan Rafi
If u step out into the road in any major city in Pakistan,you will a familiar scene there are hundreds of bike riders everywhere .some carrying thermal bags for foods,other waiting for ride booking through apps like indrive ,bykea or yango etc ,and some of them just looking passengers.whether people need to go somewhere or send a package ,or order dinner these workers are available 24/7 .we often just open an app ,book a ride,get on with our day,But have you ever stopped to think about how these people actually earning their living?do you know these gig workers put their lives at risk every single day just to feed their children.this question is perhaps the biggest reality of our society today.we make one click,and in 20 minutes our food or ride is at our doorstep.but we rarely look into the eyes of the person who brought it.whether it is the peak of summer ,heavy rain,or a cold winter night,there riders are always out on the streets.they have to keep the stove burning at home.their children,s school fees,house rent and utility bills all depends on these small,tiring trips.but do they get the respect or protection that a hard working person deserves?honestly ,no.they have become nothing more than “riders”or “numbers’ in a system.these companies often use a slogan “Be your own boss” it sounds great ,doesn’t,it? But the reality is totally different ,they don’t have a human boss,they have an “algorithm” it is an app that monitor every single move that make.if a rider is even 2two minutes late,or if they cancel a ride ,their score drops,and when the score drops their income disappear.they are not “independent” ;they are trapped by an app that doesn’t even give them a moment to rest.they don,t get sick leave ,and they don’t have health insurance ,if one of them get into an accident ,the company simply says “we are just a platform” .how can a platform that takes a commission from every ride wash its hands of responsibility when a human life is at risk? Just imaging a bike riders spending 14 to 1 hours in day on the roads what must it do to their health?the noise of traffic,the pollution , the heat and constant fear of an accident-these are their daily companions .many of these riders are also paying off installments for their bikes,every single day is new test for them.I have seen the sleep in their eyes ,yet they cant stop.why? Because if they stop ,who will feed their children.they are not just working they are gambling with their lives. We have a lobar law in our country ,but they are only for offices and factories .The lack of basic employment rights leaves these workers completely unprotected and open to exploitation with no safety nets or legal help.we talk about digitization and progress ,but is this really progress?is it progress to have a person wandering in the streets ,exposed to every danger ,with no one to stand up for them? so many cases we have hear about. These companies should be forced to provide health insurance and create a funds to help these workers in difficult times,but these apps only care about their commission they don’t care if the riders have eaten or if their bike is in good condition.the next time you book a ride or order food ,stop for a second and think are you speaking to the rider with respect ? have you ever asked them ‘brother “ are you tired ? we often get angry if they are little late ,but we never think they may be stuck in the traffic or any other issue. We all need to talk about their rights. It is the time for the government to step in update the old labor laws,and create a new rules that guarantee fair pay ,safe working conditions,ans social security for every one working in the gig economy. This is not just a story it is the heartbeat of our cities.if we want our country to grow ,progress doesn’t just mean more apps:it means making the lives of the peoples behind those apps better,don’t just see them as “delivery boys “they are the heroes who brave the streets every day to return homes to their families.they deserve security ,they deserve health coverage,and most importantly, they deserve respect ,until we understand their hardworking struggle we never become a better society ,their livelihood their children smiles and their future are all our responsibilities.let us start caring today ,because humanity is much grater than any app or machine.these people are our heroes -lets treat them like it. The author is associate with SDPI as survey assistant and can be reached at irfanrafi@sdpi.org
