Starting February 1 cab aggregators Ola and Uber have discontinued their services in Guwahati, Assam.
The ban will also be imposed on bike aggregator service Rapido.
Background
The decision came into effect after hearing complaints of continuous harassment of the cab drivers by these aggregators in the region..
The action was taken by All Assam Cab Mazdoor Sangha and All Guwahati Bike and Taxi Union.
The former said that the decision was taken due to excessive commission and blocking the accounts of the drivers.
Delayed payment
Although Ola and Uber have given jobs to many drivers, there has been growing discontent among drivers who have complained about the terms and conditions laid by the company.
One of them is that drivers have to wait for their money if customers pay them through an app wallet offered by the company.
It is because of this reason that these cab, taxi or bike drivers often request people to pay them directly in cash or on their UPI ID.
Local services
Around 18,000 cab drivers and 16,000 Rapido bike riders will stop providing the aggregators’ services.
Two local cab operators- Pei India and AM2 will be operational in the city.
Union speaks out
All Assam Cab Mazdoor Sangha general secretary Jyotish Deka said, “Ola and Uber started operations in Assam in 2015. In the first year, they gave us good incentives.
But in later days they started harassment of cab drivers. They started taking 40 to 60 per cent of the commission from cab drivers per trip. This is not reasonable.”
He added, “They are also taking the dynamic price from us. If we pay such a commission, nothing is left for us. We work for 18-20 hours. We have to pay instalments in the banks and finance companies for loans against vehicles and maintain our family also.”
In protests, drivers have urged the government to introduce a new app service for the smooth functioning of their services.
Rapido’s legal battle
Last month, Rapido said it will stop all its bike-taxi services in Maharashtra after months of legal conflict with the state government in the Bombay high court.
The matter had to do with failure to disclose crucial information, including the lack of a licence to operate.
Ola defends
Ola claims that the company’s commission is 20% or less.
They also said that the partners are paid before 12 noon the very next day.
It said that despite calls for boycott, its services are running seamlessly as it ‘is not followed by a majority of micro-entrepreneurs who work with Ola across the country’.
Calls for security for drivers
One of the major demands of the All Assam Cab Mazdoor Sangha is security for the cab drivers on duty.
“Under the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2020, health insurance and provident fund are to be provided to the cab drivers.
But they are not implementing this clause. We also demand security for the cab drivers on duty,” Deka said.
He said that they have submitted representations to the transport minister, transport commissioner and deputy commissioner on many occasions but received no response.
