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.”