Pakistani Women Workers Demand Fairness in Gig Economy Amidst Climate Challenges

The Women Workers Forum in Pakistan is urging the government to protect gig workers' welfare, specifically amidst climate and internet challenges. They highlight issues like exploitation, gender-based violence, and the need for legal recognition under labor laws to ensure fair working conditions and payments.

The Women Workers Forum (WWF) of Pakistan has called on the government for immediate action to safeguard the livelihoods of gig workers facing socio-economic hurdles exacerbated by climate change and unreliable internet access. The forum stressed that these challenges disproportionately impact women, who are highly vulnerable in the platform economy, as reported by Dawn.

In a recent meeting, Samia Zahid, Chairperson of the All Pakistan Women's Association (APWA), highlighted the urgent need for government regulation of online businesses. She stated, 'Many platform workers are overworked and underpaid, often lacking basic legal protections. Government intervention is crucial to ensure fairness and transparency in online work.' Dur-e-Shawar from WWF noted that such socio-economic challenges are intensifying gender-based violence (GBV) and increasing care responsibilities on women.

The forum included personal accounts from workers like Ayesha who, with seven years of experience on digital platforms, shared her struggles with inconsistent payments and mental stress due to job insecurity. According to Dawn, WWF and gig workers collectively demand government regulation to ensure fair contracts, timely payments, and legally recognize platform workers, granting them essential rights like minimum wage, social security, and paid leave.

WWF also emphasized the importance of collective bargaining rights, allowing platform workers to form unions for better protection and working conditions. The forum urged for policies to curb the rise in gender-based violence linked to economic stresses, ensuring access to GBV protection and support services for women workers.

The report stated the necessity for enhanced digital infrastructure, especially in underserved areas, to provide stable internet access, enabling consistent earnings. The government was encouraged to devise social safety measures to shield vulnerable workers, particularly women, during climatic and economic crises. WWF called on digital platforms to adopt worker-friendly policies, ensuring transparent payment processes and robust mental health support.

(With inputs from agencies.)