Rahul Gandhi: 'Insaan Hai Hum, Ghulaam Nahi...' LoP Honours Gig Workers, Praises Karnataka Govt for Pioneering Rights for Them

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has once again voiced strong support for gig and platform-based workers, lauding the Congress-led Karnataka government for introducing an ordinance that guarantees fundamental rights, protections, and dignity to lakhs of gig workers.

“रेटिंग नहीं, हक़ चाहिए”
“इंसान हैं हम, ग़ुलाम नहीं”

भारत जोड़ो यात्रा के दौरान जब मैं गिग वर्कर्स से मिला, तो ये शब्द मेरे दिल में उतर गए।

कर्नाटक की कांग्रेस सरकार ने एक ऐतिहासिक कदम उठाया है — एक ऐसा अध्यादेश लाया है जो गिग वर्कर्स को अधिकार, सुरक्षा और सम्मान देता है।

ये… pic.twitter.com/2IVQUXSqZo

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 29, 2025

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi quoted words that he says resonated deeply with him during the Bharat Jodo Yatra: “Rating nahi, haq chahiye. Insaan hain hum, ghulaam nahi.” He said these voices have inspired Congress’ vision for inclusive labor reforms in India’s evolving digital economy.

A Step Towards Justice

Rahul Gandhi noted that while gig workers — including food delivery agents, cab drivers, and other platform-based professionals — brave extreme conditions to serve the public, they remain vulnerable to exploitation. Arbitrary blocking by apps, lack of job security, zero paid leave, and non-transparent algorithmic wages continue to plague their livelihoods.

Gandhi commended the new Karnataka ordinance, which includes:

Social security provisions

Fair and just contractual terms

Transparency in algorithm-based payment systems

An end to arbitrary app-based blocking

He emphasized that this marks a historic milestone in India’s labor rights journey, stating that while Rajasthan initiated the first step, Karnataka has paved the way, and that Telangana is next on the list of Congress’ labor reform blueprint.

A New Vision for Work

"Technology should bring growth, but also justice," Rahul Gandhi said, stressing the need to center workers’ rights in the rapidly changing world of gig employment. He reiterated Congress’ commitment to expanding these rights across all states and the nation.

In an era where the nature of work is undergoing seismic shifts, the Congress leader said that empowering gig workers is not just a policy choice, but a matter of dignity and justice.