Several drivers, represented by the Telangana State Human Rights Protection Organisation (TSHRPO), on Friday approached the State Human Rights Commission alleging cheating by Ola Cabs.
TSHRPO General Secretary Mohammed Fakruddin and Vice-President Syed Meraj gave a representation to the SHRC seeking its intervention to resolve the problems being faced by the drivers who were hired by Ola Cabs.
They told the SHRC that they were in receipt of complaints from a group of cab drivers stating that they were cheated by Ola Cabs, a taxi aggregator.
"The drivers have alleged that the company has lured and cheated them by offering huge incentives at the time of joining. Each driver was assured daily income up to Rs. 5,000. All this was done to make them quit their regular jobs and join their services. Ola Cabs apparently wanted to damage the regular cab operators so as to establish its monopoly in the entire market. Hoping that the incentives and pay packages would remain the same, hundreds of drivers purchased new vehicles by taking huge loans at very high interest rates. Some have mortgaged their houses/gold or other articles," they alleged in their representation.
The TSHRPO accused Ola Cabs of then slashing incentives and pay packages for all the drivers.
"They had already lost their regular jobs and could not return to previous employers, and therefore are being forced to work as economic slaves," it alleged.
"Since a private company cannot be asked to pay high incentives/commissions to the drivers, we have requested for stern action against Ola Cabs for cheating the poor drivers for some timely gains. The company has resorted to unethical business practices and hurt the lives of poor drivers for its own gains. It used the drivers as a tool, and it should be dealt firmly, as per the law," the TSHRPO leaders demanded.
They also enclosed the representations received from a group of drivers. (INN)