Urban Company women partners protest against unfair labor practices in Hyderabad
MADHAPUR: A group of women employed by Urban Company in Hyderabad staged a protest at the company’s head office in Madhapur on Monday. They raised their voices against alleged unfair labour practices and demanded justice for their grievances.
The protesting workers expressed dissatisfaction with the ‘auto assign’ program, claiming it hindered job opportunities for those not participating. They demanded either the removal of the Product score or the inclusion of a photo option, emphasizing that comparable products were available in the market at reasonable prices, enabling them to earn a fair profit.
The demonstrators raised concerns about the repercussions of canceled orders and customer non-responsiveness, affecting their account status. They called for a minimum responding rating of at least 70, highlighting the unjust blocking of partners. Additionally, they alleged that customers’ false statements resulted in refunds, impacting the workers’ ratings
Amidst the protest, appeals were made to Urban Company for assistance in addressing issues such as wage theft, illegal termination, mental distress, and unfair labor practices.
Chandrika, one of the protestors, emphasized the need for workers to be treated as employees, demanding consultation on major decisions and compensation for wage theft. She said, “While Urban Company lures us with the promise of high salaries upon joining, they employ various tactics to pilfer our wages without consent or communication. They consistently fail to deliver the job opportunities pledged, relentlessly extracting what little we earn. As ‘Partners,’ we insist that Urban Company recognizes us as employees, engaging us in decision-making processes that impact our employment and overall work experience. We demand algorithmic accountability, seeking compensation for wage theft. Our fundamental rights, as outlined in the Indian constitution and labor laws, must be safeguarded.”
Another protestor Sheema Parveen urged support for an urgent meeting between worker representatives and Urban Company founders, invoking their fundamental right to collective bargaining and union participation to address ongoing challenges.
She added, “We urgently seek your support to facilitate a meeting between a select group of our representatives and Urban Company’s founders for collective bargaining on our fundamental demands. Despite repeated attempts to engage with the company on our concerns, our pleas have consistently been ignored. In asserting our fundamental right to collective bargaining and the right to form a union, we aim to address the pressing issues we confront.”
CM Revanth Reddy reorganizes disaster management for Greater Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has decided to assign critical responsibilities to the Disaster Management Department within Greater Hyderabad. He has directed officials to implement structural changes and redistribute responsibilities accordingly. In a review meeting at the Secretariat on Monday evening, the Chief Minister discussed the reorganization with officials from Municipal Administration, HMDA, and Musi Development.
Expansion of disaster management responsibilities
Recognizing the geographic expansion of Hyderabad, the Chief Minister ordered the Disaster Management Department to extend its jurisdiction to the Outer Ring Road. He suggested including GHMC, 27 surrounding municipalities and corporations, and 33 gram panchayats within its service area. The department will be renamed the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring Protection (HYDRA). The Chief Minister proposed appointing a DIG-level officer as the director and SP-level officers as additional directors. He also recommended special teams from GHMC, HMDA, the Water Board, city traffic, and other departments to join this new division.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for the Disaster Management Department to offer continuous services to city residents, not just during floods or emergencies. HYDRA should actively address all issues faced by Hyderabad’s citizens, including preserving the city’s tanks and ponds, protecting government properties from encroachments, and managing hoardings and flex banners. Additionally, HYDRA will oversee water pipelines, electricity supply lines, drainage, flood management, and traffic control.
Focus on heritage and infrastructure projects
Chief Minister Reddy directed the acceleration of the Musi River Development Project, aiming to elevate Hyderabad’s international reputation. He stressed the importance of working towards the government’s goal of transforming this project into a landmark. He also ordered officials to take necessary actions to restore historical buildings and structures within the city. The GHMC presented a PowerPoint on various heritage sites, such as the City Library, Charminar Ayurvedic Hospital, and Nizamia Observatory etc. The Chief Minister encouraged exploring ways to develop these sites for tourism and integrating feasible ones into the Musi River Development Project.
The Chief Minister instructed Chief Secretary Shantikumar to draft a comprehensive reorganization plan, including staffing, duties, and budget allocations for HYDRA. He also emphasized identifying key areas where the Disaster Management Department can enhance its operations.
The meeting included Chief Secretary Shantikumar, Principal Secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development Danakishore, GHMC Commissioner Amrapali, GHMC Vigilance Disaster Management Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, and Hyderabad Water Board MD Ashok Reddy.
