Shaik Salauddin, National General Secretary of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) and Founder President of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) has sharply criticized Urban Company’s new 15-minute maid booking service, calling it a step toward the further exploitation of gig and domestic workers in the country’s growing platform economy.
Salauddin denounced the initiative, arguing that it prioritizes convenience over workers’ rights and well-being.
Urban Company, one of India’s largest home services platforms, introduced the 15-minute maid booking option, promising quick and affordable cleaning services. However, labour activists argue that this move will lead to increased job insecurity, unrealistic performance expectations, and deteriorating conditions for workers.
“This model treats workers as dispensable, imposing unrealistic expectations in a high-pressure work environment with no social security or protections,” Salauddin said in a statement. “Domestic workers already face precarious conditions, and this move will only exacerbate job insecurity and financial instability.”
Salauddin also criticized Urban Company for introducing the service without consulting labour unions or worker representatives, calling for immediate dialogue with platform worker organizations. He urged the Indian government to intervene, warning that the rapid expansion of gig-based services without regulatory oversight risks turning the sector into a “modern form of slavery.”
TGPWU and IFAT have demanded that Urban Company halt the new model until it ensures fair wages, adequate social security, and safe working conditions.
“Speed cannot come at the cost of dignity. Gig and platform domestic workers deserve fair pay, protections, and safe workplaces,” Salauddin said. “We will not allow such exploitative practices to go unchallenged.”
