India Ride-Hailing Drivers Plan Nationwide Strike on Feb 7

App-based taxi, auto rickshaw, and bike taxi drivers across India are set to stage a nationwide one-day strike on Saturday, February 7, protesting against arbitrary fare policies by ride-hailing platforms and government delays in regulating the sector. Organized by unions including the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union and the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha, the action, known as the All India Breakdown, will see thousands of drivers log off platforms like Ola, Uber, Rapido, and Porter for at least six hours, potentially disrupting transport services in major cities including Mumbai and Hyderabad.

The strike stems from ongoing frustrations over the lack of minimum base fares, despite the introduction of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines in 2025. Unions argue that the guidelines have failed to curb platforms' ability to unilaterally set fares, leading to reduced driver earnings amid rising fuel prices, maintenance costs, and commissions. "The failure of both central and state governments to notify minimum base fares has allowed platforms to cut driver earnings while raising commissions," said Shaik Salauddin, president of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union....