ABOUT US
Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT)
Empowering Gig Workers. Uniting Voices. Driving Change.
Website: www.ifat.org.in
The Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT) is a pioneering national-level organization that represents and advocates for the rights and welfare of gig and platform-based transport workers across India. Established in response to the growing precarity faced by workers in the digital platform economy, IFAT serves as a unified voice for lakhs of drivers and delivery partners associated with app-based companies such as Ola, Uber, Rapido, Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Flipkart, and others.
As India witnesses a rapid expansion of the gig economy, countless workers find themselves in informal, insecure jobs with limited access to social security, fair wages, or dignified working conditions. IFAT was formed to address these systemic issues and fight for equitable treatment, safe working conditions, just compensation, and recognition of gig workers as part of the formal labor force.
We are a federation of regional and city-based unions and worker collectives from across India, coming together to build solidarity among platform workers. IFAT not only engages in grassroots mobilization, legal advocacy, and policy interventions but also actively participates in national and international dialogues around platform work, digital labor rights, and labor justice in the gig economy.
Our Mission
To organize, empower, and protect the rights of app-based transport and delivery workers in India by advocating for better working conditions, fair policies, and recognition under labor laws.
Our Vision
To create a just and inclusive platform economy where gig workers have a voice, secure livelihoods, and full access to their rights as workers.
What We Do
Worker Mobilization & Unionization: Supporting local-level organization of gig workers into unions and collectives for collective bargaining.
Policy Advocacy: Engaging with government bodies and regulatory institutions to push for inclusive labor laws, minimum wage guarantees, social security coverage, and safety standards.
Legal Support: Assisting workers in legal battles related to unfair deactivations, wage theft, and labor rights violations.
Research & Documentation: Conducting studies and publishing reports on working conditions, economic insecurity, and algorithmic management faced by platform workers.
International Solidarity: Collaborating with global labor movements and networks to address transnational issues in the gig economy.
Our Impact
Since our formation, IFAT has filed landmark legal cases, facilitated the formation of multiple city-level unions, successfully protested against unfair policies by platform companies, and brought national attention to the lived realities of gig workers. We have become a recognized voice in the fight to reimagine digital labor with fairness, dignity, and worker rights at the core.
At IFAT, we believe that technology should serve the people—not exploit them. We stand committed to building a future where every app-based worker is treated with respect, earns a fair income, and has a say in shaping the rules of their work.
Join us in standing up for India’s gig workers.
Indian Federation Of App-Based Transport Workers Committee members
Education : Diploma in R/AC Job Qualification : Worked as a BMS Operator for 5 years.Worked as a Manager in Appco Company(MNC).Franchisee of Airtel for 5 years.Later took franchisee of Food.Distribution in Railways for 3 years. Birth place Mumbai, Maharashtra / Birth date 21/03/1984. He was also the Secretary of Food Distribution Worker Union in Shivsena for 2 years. Later when he became Ola-Uber Partner, he joined with MRRKS(Trade Union) as Secretary from 2016 to 2018. Through his journey in App based Company he realized the problems of drivers of Ola-Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, Auto rickshaw, Taxi drivers, Airport men-women workers.So he decided to go on strike in 2017.And it was the huge strike for the workers of App Based companies, the strike got huge response from drivers and others. So he decided to start an Union of and for drivers to resolve their day to day problems in the field of App Based transport company. From 2018 he started building an Union for drivers named “MAHARASHTRA APP BASED TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION “(MAT) with an inspirational slogan “Driver Power Union Power…Union Power Driver Power…given by him. He is the founder and President of the union .For about 15000 drivers are registered in this union. After gaining popularity, Union of other 12 states also started joining this union and also founded the National Federation named INDIAN FEDERATION OF APP BASED TRANSPORT WORKERS (IFAT).He is the President of this Federation. During the journey, in year 2020 in pandemic he took help from various trusts to help the workers in several ways, Like to distribute them groceries, medical tests, arranged concessions in hospitals and reached about 3500-4000 to help them. Later he realized to start a Trust to help and reach more workers in their needs, So recently in the year of April 2022 he started ‘APP BASED TRANSPORT WORKERS WELFARE TRUST’. I hope to reach end number of app based workers to help their issues.
Education.. B. A., LL.B, Diploma in Labour Laws Birth place Mumbai, Maharashtra / Birth date 17/08/1968 By passion Trade union Activist and by profession an Advocate of workers only..Joined Best undertaking as clerk in 1992 and resigned job in 2007 and gradually became President in 2012.Working in Transport workers Unions since 1992.City bus transport, Conventional taxi and Rickshaw, App based Cab and delivery workers. Also working for the Fire Brigade, Municipal Corporation and General Trade Unions.Position held… Chairman..IFAT President.. Best workers Union, Working President.. Best kamgar Sena. Vice president.. Bombay labour Union, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, General Secretary.. MAT workers Union, Mumbai taxi Chalak malak Sena, Trustee.. App based transport workers welfare Trust and Best workers welfare trust.Since 1994 actively negotiated wage settlements of Best and Municipal workers as well private company workers.Appearing in Labour, industrial courts and High Court, supreme Court on behalf of workers. Participated in govt. Committees as representative of workers at state and national level..Committees like a city taxi scheme, Aggregators guidelines, Unified Labour codes, vehicular pollution control. What our General secretary says :- The ideology for the MAT is “Hum Ladenge, Hum Jitenge ” is the slogan given by me. Considering the fragmented and unsecured sector of cab and delivery, we have to fight with companies and the government to secure the future of these workers, create in-house facilities like funds, educational help, RTO and vehicles related issues and housing for social, political, economical upliftment of these workers. Since 2016 I have been working with gig workers, and have participated in many strikes, agitations, discussions and negotiations with the government and companies, formulating welfare board and aggregator guidelines.
State Working Committee Members
