The Japan Times Weekend

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Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 9-10, 2023 | 5

India’s female gig workers organize via WhatsApp
As platform economy
grows, so do concerns
around low wages

claims about dissatisfaction “are not true”
and that the company ensures “healthyworking conditions” for all workers, including women.
The company respects “freedom of association and our associates’ right to join, form,or not to join a labour union … without fearof reprisal, intimidation or harassment,” thespokesperson said.

RINA CHANDRANTHOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATIONAs women working at India’s Urban Company, an app-based firm providing beautyand home care services, prepared for anationwide protest against its new rules andaccount deactivations, they exchanged hundreds of messages on WhatsApp on every
small detail of the days-long action.
Thousands of Urban Company’s female
employees, backed by the All India Gig
Workers’ Union, took to the streets in Julyin about half a dozen Indian cities to protest
unfair response and rating requirements that
led to their accounts being blocked.
It was the first nationwide labor action byfemale gig workers in India, where the rapidly expanding platform economy is dominated by men, and women have not been apart of trade unions because of the largely
informal nature of their work.
That is changing now, as more women
join unions and collectives focused on therights of platform workers, taking the leadat protests, and in negotiations with companies and states for better benefits and more
control of their data.
“Women gig workers were seeing otherplatform workers protest, and were motivated,” said Rakshita Swamy at Soochna
Evam Rozgar Adhikar Abhiyan, a workers’
collective that helped draft a gig worker’s law
in Rajasthan state recently.
“They are also intimately connected totheir mobile phones and are able to connect and organize more easily than womenin rural areas,” she told the Thomson Reuters
Foundation.

Unfair to workers
With persistently
low numbers ofwomen in formal
employment, digitalplatforms have been
positioned as ideal
for women, withpromises of greater
flexibility, dignity,
autonomy andhigher earnings.
REUTERSWith persistently low numbers of womenin formal employment, slow job creationand a disproportionate share of womenin informal employment in India, digitalplatforms have been positioned as ideal for
women, with promises of greater flexibility,dignity, autonomy and higher earnings.
But as the platform economy has grown,
so have concerns around low wages, the lackof protections, limited flexibility and theopaque nature of algorithmic managementthat can result in random job assignments
and ratings, and account deactivation.
Women are particularly vulnerable:
Recent research by rights group ActionAid showed that algorithms were foundto discriminate against women “unable torespond as quickly or work as many hours as
men because of unpaid care responsibilities.”

Single mothers

India is one of the largest and fastest-growing
markets for the so-called gig economy, withnearly 8 million workers in 2020-21, andforecast to expand to 24 million workers
by 2029-30, according to government thinktank NITI Aayog.
Women make up a very small part of theindustry, and are largely concentrated inbeauty services, domestic work, health careand education.
Food delivery platform Zomato has indicated that women make up about 1% of
its workforce, while at Urban Company
women make up over a third of its more than
45,000 contractors.
Manju Goel worked at an Amazon warehouse in the northern Indian town of Manesar for several months last year, alongsidedozens of women who had to stand for long
stretches, lift heavy packages, and had few
breaks with limited access to restrooms.
Using WhatsApp and through brief interactions, Goel got about 60 workers to sign
up with Amazon workers’ union to ask forbetter conditions, and joining worldwide
protests on Black Friday.
“They were afraid to join the union
because they were afraid of losing their job.
But there was no other way for us to makeour demands heard,” said Goel, 45, a single
mother of three.
“We saw the women protesting against
Urban Company and we were inspired.
Like me, many women there were also single
mothers — if we don’t speak up, who willspeak for us?”
A spokesperson for Amazon said theOrganizing in the home care and beauty
sectors is particularly challenging because
workers have lower visibility and fewer
chances to connect compared to their peers
in ride-hailing and delivery services.
Urban Company workers’ protests in
October 2021 protests came after months of
discussions over WhatsApp groups over thehigh commissions, the rating system and alack of grievance mechanisms.
“When we realized everyone had the same
issues, we quietly began meeting in small
groups in the park,” said beautician Seema
Singh, 36, who worked in the company for
four years before her ID was blocked.
About 200 women protested outside thecompany’s office in Gurugram, near Delhi.
They held a second protest that December.
Urban Company conceded to some of
their demands, even as it filed legal cases
against four of the women organizers including Singh, another first for the gig economy
in the country.
“Seeing the protests in July, it felt really
good that so many women are pushingback,” said Singh.
“It shows that the women are more aware
and understand how unfair the platform is.
But it also shows nothing has changed since
we protested.”
Urban Company did not respond to arequest for comment.
Last year, the firm was ranked highest
among a dozen gig companies in India in asurvey by the Oxford Internet Institute’s Fairwork on metrics such as pay, conditions andmanagement.
In response to the protests in July, thecompany said it had “asked a few partners
who were not meeting standards … to partways,” and that it continues to “maintain anopen-door policy and encourage dialogue
with our partners.”
But Sheema Parveen, a beautician whoworked at Urban Company in Hyderabad
for two years, and whose ID was blocked inMay, was unable to appeal to anyone at thecompany through the app — the only option
she had.
“So many lives have been ruined by thisplatform — I heard of at least two womenin this state who killed themselves after theirIDs were blocked,” she said.

Widening the gap

India’s Rajasthan state in July approved abill to impose a surcharge on online transactions via platforms like Amazon, Zomato
and Urban Company to fund welfare benefits for gig workers, the first such scheme inthe country.
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states havealso made moves to provide benefits, register gig workers and hear grievances.
But most platform companies worldwide
assume that the typical worker is an “independent, efficient, mobile, digitally engaged man
without family responsibilities or other considerations,” Fairwork said in a report this year.
For the women gig workers in India whoare organizing, “they’ve now found theirspace in the political discourse. But it stilltakes years for advocacy to turn into a law,”said Swamy.
“Meanwhile, they’re taking a risk justshowing up in a protest. The same device
that they use to connect and organise is also
used for surveillance and to boot them off
the platform.”

Adventure travel world summit(Promotional content)

Confab aims to make Japan a bucket list destination
Adventure tourism has become anincreasingly popular travel option forpeople looking for something more thana vacation, and the industry has expanded
to meet demand for “sustainable travel,” acategory that includes meaningful experiences for travelers and real benefits fortheir destinations.
Providing support to businesses throughout the industry, the 2023 Adventure Travel
World Summit will kick off on Sept. 11 andrun through Sept. 14 at the Sapporo Convention Center in Hokkaido. This will be
the first time for the Adventure Travel Trade
Association to hold the summit in Asia,with Hokkaido providing the setting for
ATTA members to experience firsthand thenatural and cultural beauty of Japan.

Summit organizers expect to welcome
an estimated 800 participants representing the many facets of the adventure
travel industry, from tour operators andtravel writers to destination representatives and thought leaders, as they gather
from across the globe to explore trends,
share ideas and make new connections
to strengthen their networks. The scheduled events include lectures, panel presentations, a destination marketplaceconnecting buyers and suppliers, “Day ofAdventure” options designed for participants to experience what certain regions
have to offer, and a session with international writers and editors to discuss ideas
for potential articles and stories meant tohighlight exciting adventures and provide

an introduction to this popular style oftravel.
Defined by ATTA as travel that involves
physical activity, a connection to natureand the environment, and an immersive
cultural experience, adventure travel canbe as simple as a homestay in an unfamiliar culture, or as extreme as scalinga mountain. What distinguishes it fromother forms of travel is the focus on programs designed around five concepts:
novel and unique experiences, self-transformation, physical or mental challenges,
wellness and low environmental impact.
Venturing outside their physical comfort zone by choosing challenging activities such as trekking, mountain climbing
or canoeing offers adventure travelers

tangible benefits — an endorphin boost,improved physical fitness, reduced stressand higher self-confidence. Yet, adventure
travel isn’t solely about people conquerContinued on page 6 →PAGE: 5

Niseko’s pristine mountains, clear rivers and lush forests provide an ideal destination for adventure travelers from across Japan and beyond. NISEKO TOURISM

6 | Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 9-10, 2023

The Japan Times Weekend

Adventure travel world summit(Promotional content)

Hokkaido, Nagasaki targeted
as hosts for adventure tours→ Continued from page 5
ing peaks and pushing their bodies to thelimits. It’s equally about stepping beyond
their psychological comfort zone. Choosing adventures that place them in unfamiliar cultural situations allows travelers tobroaden their perspective, gain an appreciation for diversity and increase theirconnection to and interest in different cul-tures, peoples and languages.
Beyond the individual benefits, adventure tourism has a positive impact on
travel destinations. It brings economic
benefits to communities where travelers lodge, dine and buy goods and services, as well as provides employment
for residents. While such benefits can beexpected to apply to any destination,

Left: The Mega
Zipline in Niseko is
one of the world’s
longest. Below: Oneof the summit’s
programs features ahands-on experienceharvesting andprocessing kelp,which has supported
the Hidaka region’seconomy for generations.
NISEKO TOURISM;
KNT-CT HOLDINGS

they are especially meaningful in rural or
remote areas where economic opportunities may be limited. As many of the mostpopular adventure destinations are also
in some of the poorest countries in theworld, adventure travel promotes government investment in local infrastructurethat benefits residents as well as travelers.
While it might be argued that adventure travel started with the migration ofhomo sapiens from Africa to Europe andAsia some 60,000 years ago, or Leif Eriksonsailing to North America around the year
1000, or Lewis and Clark’s expedition in1804, adventure travel as it is commonly
known today might be traced back toMaurice Herzog’s expedition to conquer
Nepal’s Mount Annapurna in 1950 andEdmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s
success on Mount Everest in 1953. Since
then, adventure travel has grown intoa major segment of the broader industry. The global adventure tourism market reached $367 billion in 2022, and is
expected to grow to an impressive $4.6
trillion by 2032.
According to ATTA, adventure travelers

spend more than twice the amount that
leisure travelers do. The immediate benefit of bringing the Adventure travel summit to Hokkaido is the influx of cash into
the local economy as the 800 participants
exercise pre- and post-summit program
options to explore what the area has tooffer. The long-term benefits the summit isexpected to yield, however, are increased
interest in Hokkaido as an adventure
travel destination after ATTA members
learn about its programs through tours
and build local networks.
According to the Hokkaido District
Transport Bureau, the idea behind its
adventure travel policy is to bring “fourdirectional” win-win benefits to travel
agents, travelers, regional communities
and the environment. This policy aligns
well with the 2023 summit theme of “Harmony” and serves as a reminder to lookbeyond our individuality and place higher
value on our community as a whole. To
this end, ATTA is partnering with Japanese organizations to create a sustainableecosystem of nature, communities andeconomies.
As an active participant in the summit,
KNT-CT Holdings is showcasing its adventure travel programs through a two-day
culinary cycling tour in the Hidaka regionof southern Hokkaido. Along the way,participants will learn about the region’s
kelp culture, harvest kelp and eat regional
specialties with options to try kaiseki ryōri(a traditional multicourse meal), attend a
networking dinner with local residents, orvisit an izakaya (Japanese pub).
Participants will also have opportunities to learn about the range of adventure travel options in each region. While
Niseko is mostly known for its skiing, thearea also offers hiking, hot spring resorts,
cycling and mountain biking. It is also
home to the Mega Zipline, a series of three
zip lines including the Mach 3, which at
1.7 kilometers ranks as one of the world’s
longest and reaches speeds in excess of110 kph.
The Nagasaki Prefecture Tourism Association is introducing culture- and natureoriented adventure programs in four
distinct regions. Travelers can traverse
volcanic heights and lush terraced fields
in Unzen, discover Hirado’s rich heritage
as a trading center, experience Tsushima’s
historical significance and explore theGoto Islands’ unique geology and vibrantcamellias while biking, trekking andkayaking.
Summit participants are expected toreturn home with a greater appreciationfor Hokkaido, and Japan as a whole, as
an adventure travel destination and with

Nagasaki Prefecture is a prime location foradventure tourism with a diverse range ofoutdoor experiences, including e-biking inUnzen-Amakusa National Park, kayaking
around Tsushima island and luxury camping
on the Goto Islands. NAGASAKI PREFECTURE
TOURISM ASSOCIATION

stronger networks linking them to industry leaders around the globe. These connections will empower them to curate
adventures that will create a sustainableecosystem where nature, communities
and economies thrive in unison, not at theexpense of one another.
Visit https://events.adventuretravel.biz/summit/hokkaido-2023 for more information about the event.

ADVENTURE NAGASAKIEVERYTHIIS HERENG!
Experiencthe ocea emountainn,s,histor yand culturenisekotourism.com

Our Destinations •HIRADO •TSUSHIMA •UNZEN •GOTO ISLANDS

Nagasaki Prefecture Tourism Associationwww.discover-nagasaki.com/en@discover_nagasaki

PAGE: 6

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