Bengaluru: A Rapido bike-taxi driver has alleged that he was suspended from the company’s Captain app after raising concerns about rider safety and unfair payments on social media, sparking widespread debate about gig worker rights.
Driver highlights pay and safety concerns
The driver first posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the difficulties faced by Rapido captains, including inconsistent fare calculations and lack of safety measures. Later, he elaborated in a Reddit post, claiming the platform’s payment system was flawed.
According to him, fares are calculated only for the default route shown on the app, regardless of whether drivers take alternative paths. As a result, captains are often underpaid when traffic diversions or rider requests force them to take longer routes.
The driver added that Rapido’s lack of real-time route updates and poor communication with drivers only worsened the situation.
“Captains need: Pay for actual distance travelled, transparent surge logic, real-time route updates, and respect when we raise issues. Suspending us won’t solve anything — it only hurts the platform and customers,” he wrote.
Social media reaction
The post quickly gained traction, with many X users and Reddit communities voicing support for the driver. Several accused Rapido of silencing dissent instead of addressing genuine operational flaws.
One user commented:
“Probably they will state that you violated the employee code and it resulted in your suspension. Probably you could have raised the question in an email thread, instead you went for a social media thread. I don’t see anything wrong in what they did and hope it comes as a learning lesson for you too, son.”
Another pointed to Rapido’s mapping system, saying:
“This is because they use their own maps instead of Google.”
A third added:
“Regarding point 1, if they actually started paying for actual distance travelled, many captains will start misusing it and will deliberately use longer routes. And then users will start complaining why the final price is more than the one from booking time.”
Gig worker challenges under spotlight
The controversy has intensified discussions around the treatment of gig economy workers in India. Critics argue that while platforms like Rapido and Ola provide flexible earning opportunities, they often lack fair pay structures, safety provisions, and grievance redressal mechanisms for drivers.
Labour activists have long demanded stricter regulations to protect gig workers, pointing to repeated instances of pay disputes and suspensions without explanation.
Rapido yet to respond
As of now, Rapido has not issued an official statement regarding the alleged suspension or the driver’s claims. The lack of clarity has only fueled speculation and demands for the company to address the issue publicly.
The episode underscores growing tensions in India’s gig economy, where drivers and delivery workers continue to seek recognition, transparency, and better working conditions.