Last Updated:February 05, 2026, 20:44 IST

Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union leads a nationwide strike on February 7, 2026, demanding regulated fares for Ola, Uber, Rapido and Porter, citing exploitation.

Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union leads a nationwide strike on February 7, 2026, demanding regulated fares for Ola, Uber, Rapido and Porter, citing exploitation.(Representative Image)

Gig worker unions representing drivers from Ola, Uber and Rapido have announced a nationwide strike on Saturday, February 7, 2026, demanding government intervention to regulate fares in the app-based transport sector.

The protest, dubbed the ‘All India Breakdown’, is expected to see app-based drivers go offline for around six hours across the country. The strike is being led by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU), which has accused ride-hailing platforms of arbitrarily setting fares despite the existence of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025.

Announcing the strike on X on Wednesday, the union said app-based transport workers nationwide would stop work to protest the absence of minimum fares and regulatory safeguards. “No minimum fares. No regulation. Endless exploitation. Government must act now,” the union said, alleging that millions of drivers are being pushed into poverty while aggregator companies continue to profit.

In an earlier statement, the TGPWU appealed to the government to immediately notify minimum base fares for aggregator platforms, including Ola, Uber, Rapido and Porter. It said that in the absence of government-regulated fare structures, companies continue to unilaterally determine fares, resulting in income insecurity, exploitation and unsustainable working conditions for millions of drivers.

“As a mark of protest against continued policy inaction and to assert our legitimate demands, app-based transport workers across the country will observe an All India Breakdown on 7 February 2026,” the union said.

The union has also urged authorities to initiate immediate dialogue with worker representatives to move toward what it described as a fair, lawful and sustainable regulatory framework for the app-based transport sector.

Key demands

Among the key demands raised by the unions are:

• Minimum base fares: Immediate notification of minimum base fares for app-based transport services, including autos, cabs and bike taxis, to be finalised in consultation with recognised driver and worker unions, in line with the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025.
• Ban on private vehicles: Strict prohibition on the use of private, non-commercial vehicles for commercial passenger and goods transport.

The proposed strike is expected to disrupt app-based transport services in several cities if negotiations with the government do not materialise before February 7.

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