Workers Centre - Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam

Recent reports emphasize the critical need for workers in the gig economy to actively pursue opportunities beyond mere financial gains. The focus is on achieving improved wages, living conditions, benefits, and an overall enhanced standard of living. As businesses evolve in response to challenges such as population migration, an aging workforce, and business consolidation, the report advocates for a multidimensional approach deemed crucial not only to navigate emerging challenges but also to uplift the overall well-being of workers.

Additionally, there is a pressing need to empower individuals engaged in non-traditional roles, such as auto drivers or domestic workers, necessitating the development of specialized systems and infrastructure explicitly designed to support these unique employment forms. Furthermore, the prevalence of the gig economy magnifies the significance of addressing challenges within India's social welfare system, particularly in Chennai, underscoring the report's call for urgent measures to successfully navigate these complex issues.

We've undertaken a multi-faceted approach within this initiative. Our union has been formed to empower women informal workers in Chennai, bringing together a significant number, ranging from 400 to 500 autodrivers. Our primary aim is to furnish a collective platform for these workers, enabling them to voice concerns, negotiate for improved wages, advocate for better working conditions, and foster a supportive environment through self-help groups, and informal networks. This overarching goal ensures not only the sustainability but also the flourishing of women in these unconventional professions.

• Sustainability: This initial phase of setting up unions acts as a catalyst for the creation of a sustainable institution, supported by membership fees. This institution will play a vital role in funding key positions, including a full-time administrative secretary, a retained lawyer, an office space for the union, and the inclusion of representatives from financial institutions in union meetings. Additionally, our members will benefit from enrollment in comprehensive programs, covering health insurance, retirement benefits, accident coverage, roadside assistance, and more.

• Expansion: The institution, tailored not only for women auto drivers but also designed to expand its model to include members from various trades in the city, represents a novel approach to unions in Chennai. Beyond empowering women auto drivers, our broader vision seeks to use the success of this approach as a blueprint for implementing similar initiatives in other cities such as Coimbatore, Bangalore, and beyond, thereby fostering positive change and empowerment on a broader scale.

• Research: This initiative will also look towards conducting research in topics such as Cooperatives, Silver Tsunami, among others that could become relevant to workers in the coming years and decades.