Unseen Struggles of Private Car Drivers
By: Narayanan Kizhumundayur
Private car drivers, like domestic workers, endure a life of silent servitude, bound by the unspoken rules of a society that often ignores their struggles. These individuals, who spend long hours navigating busy streets and endless traffic, remain at the beck and call of their employers, often without appreciation, fair wages, or humane working conditions.
The plight of private drivers is not confined to a single country or culture; it is a universal reality that persists across the world, affecting millions of lives, yet receiving little attention.
Their job, seemingly simple to outsiders, is a demanding one that requires constant alertness, patience, and physical endurance. A private driver’s day begins before the sun rises and often extends well past midnight. Unlike office workers, who have defined working hours, private drivers are trapped in an indefinite schedule where the end of the day is dictated not by the clock but by their employer’s convenience.
They are expected to be available at all times, without complaint, waiting for hours in a parked car while their employer attends meetings, social gatherings, shopping sprees, or leisurely activities. These long hours of idleness are not restful, for they must remain ready to start driving at a moment’s notice, no matter how exhausted they feel.
Despite their indispensable role in making their employer’s life comfortable, they are frequently treated with indifference, if not outright disrespect. Many drivers work under conditions that border on modern-day slavery, earning meager salaries that do not reflect their gruelling labor.
They are often denied basic worker rights such as weekly off-days, paid leave, or overtime compensation. In some cases, they are paid a fixed amount per month, with no extra payment for extended working hours or late-night duties. Employers, who would never tolerate a delay in their personal schedule, think nothing of making their drivers wait for hours without considering their hunger, fatigue, or personal needs.
The conditions in which private drivers live are another aspect of their silent suffering. In many cases, they sleep inside their cars or in poorly maintained servant quarters, far removed from the comfort enjoyed by the very people they serve. The idea of a proper resting space or a clean bed is a luxury for many of them.
If they are given accommodations, it is often a small, cramped room with little ventilation, shared with other household staff. Their meals, too, are an afterthought—leftovers at best, or skipped altogether when circumstances dictate. They do not have the freedom to cook their own food or eat at regular intervals because they are constantly on standby, waiting for their employer’s call.
The emotional toll on private drivers is immense. They must tolerate impatience, insults, and unrealistic demands from employers who view them as mere extensions of their vehicles rather than as human beings with their own feelings, aspirations, and struggles.
They are expected to remain silent witnesses to private conversations, to be invisible yet ever-present, to absorb scolding for traffic jams beyond their control, and to bear the blame for every delay or inconvenience. If the car breaks down due to lack of maintenance, it is the driver who is reprimanded, even if he had repeatedly informed the employer about the need for repairs. If the employer is in a bad mood, the driver often becomes the target of misplaced anger, enduring harsh words without the right to respond.
Adding to their misery is the lack of financial security. Their salaries are usually low, barely enough to support their families. Many of them come from economically weaker backgrounds, and their entire household depends on their earnings. Since they are often employed informally, without official contracts or benefits, they do not receive medical insurance, pension, or any form of job security.
If they fall ill or get injured, they have no financial backup. If their employer decides to replace them with a new driver, they are left jobless overnight, with no compensation or support. Some employers go as far as deducting money from their salary for minor mistakes, such as being a few minutes late or using extra fuel.
For many, quitting is not an option. Financial obligations, family responsibilities, and the lack of alternative employment opportunities force them to endure this relentless cycle of exploitation.
Some employers justify their treatment by claiming generosity, providing the driver with old clothes, occasional leftovers, or festival bonuses, as if these meagre gestures compensate for years of underpayment and mistreatment. The expectation is that drivers should be grateful for whatever they receive, no matter how unfairly they are treated.
In many societies, the attitude toward private drivers is shaped by deep-rooted class differences. The employer, who enjoys a life of luxury, often looks down upon the driver as someone belonging to an inferior class. This mind-set reflects in the way drivers are spoken to, ordered around, and expected to remain submissive at all times.
They are rarely addressed with respect and are often treated as if their time, emotions, and dignity have no value. Their presence is acknowledged only when their services are needed; otherwise, they are invisible. Even when a driver has worked for a family for years, his relationship with them remains strictly professional, without any emotional attachment or appreciation for his dedication.
The world has evolved in many ways, yet the master-servant dynamic remains deeply ingrained in societies where class divisions are rigidly upheld. Governments and labor laws offer little protection to private drivers, as they fall outside formal employment structures.
Even in places where laws exist, enforcement is weak, and many drivers hesitate to demand their rights for fear of losing their jobs. The lack of unions or collective bargaining power further isolates them, leaving them with no support system to fight against exploitation.
While some fortunate drivers work for kind and considerate employers, they are exceptions rather than the norm. The real change can only come when societies recognize the dignity of labor and ensure that those who serve others are treated with the respect, fair wages, and humane working conditions they deserve. Private drivers play an essential role in the lives of their employers, ensuring safe and comfortable travel, yet they remain among the most overlooked and underprivileged members of the working class. Until there is a fundamental shift in societal attitudes, private car drivers will continue to live in the shadows, navigating not just roads but a life of silent endurance.
(The author is an accounts professional. He hails from Kerala)
