Kathmandu. Ride-sharing worker Ganesh Nepali, who set himself on fire while resisting pressure from the police administration, died while undergoing treatment at Bir Hospital. Various rider unions have expressed sorrow over the demise of Nepali.

Issuing a joint statement, Riders Union Nepal, Nepal Platform Workers Union and other organisations extended condolences to the bereaved families. “The death of Ganesh Nepali has shocked the workers in the transport and service sectors based on gigs and platforms.

The unions have pledged to take forward the demands of workers’ rights that they have been raising for a long time. They have also demanded the government and the employer concerned to provide compensation to the family of the deceased and make arrangements for maintenance of the dependent families.

Meanwhile, gig and platform workers in Nepal have submitted a memorandum to the government with various demands. “Despite the expansion of the gig and platform economy over the past decade, millions of workers in these sectors continue to be deprived of labour rights, social security and a safe working environment,” the memorandum said.

The workers have demanded that the platform workers be given the right to organize and collective bargaining in accordance with the Labor Act. They also urged the government to endorse the standards of decent work on platform economy endorsed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and to enact laws to protect the rights of gig and platform workers respecting the Supreme Court’s decision.

They have also demanded the formation of a tripartite dialogue committee comprising workers, employers and government representatives, and arrangement of free and fast service at the labour court to resolve the disputes related to ride-sharing.

Likewise, the memorandum also calls for adjusting the ride-sharing fare taking into account the cost of fuel, infrastructure expenditure and the increasing cost of living.