This Privacy Policy explains how HardWorkers.in. ("we", "us") collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards your information when you use HardWorkers.in (the "Platform"). We handle personal data in line with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and other applicable Indian laws.
1. Information we collect
1.1 Information you give us directly
- Account: name, email address, mobile number, password (hashed), profile photo.
- Professional profile: role, qualifications, skills, specialisations, work experience, resume file, expected pay, job preferences, languages.
- Employer profile: organisation details, address, registration documents, team members.
- Communications: messages you send through the Platform, support tickets, feedback.
1.2 Information we collect automatically
- Device and log data: IP address, browser/OS information, timestamps.
- Usage: the pages you visit, jobs you view, searches you run, save/apply actions.
- Location: latitude and longitude derived from the address you enter — used to power distance-based job discovery. We do not track your live location.
1.3 Information from third parties
- Payments: transaction status from Razorpay or Cashfree when an employer subscribes.
- Maps: normalised addresses and coordinates from Google Maps when you pick a location.
2. How we use your information
- Provide, personalise, and improve the Platform.
- Match professionals to relevant jobs and vice versa, including location- and skill-based recommendations.
- Verify accounts and document authenticity, prevent fraud, and enforce our Terms of Service.
- Send transactional emails and SMS (e.g. verification codes, application status updates).
- Provide customer support, respond to your queries, and resolve disputes.
- Comply with legal obligations and lawful requests from Indian authorities.
3. When we share your information
- With recruiters: profile fields you have chosen to make visible are shown to verified recruiters. Contact information is masked until a recruiter unlocks it with credits.
- With employers you apply to: the details of your application, including your resume and cover note.
- With service providers: hosting (cloud), SMS delivery, email delivery, payments, and analytics — bound by contractual confidentiality.
- For legal reasons: in response to a valid legal request, or to protect our rights, users, or the public.
We never sell your personal data.
4. Cookies
We use essential cookies to keep you signed in and to remember your preferences. We may also use analytics cookies to understand how the Platform is used and improve it. You can block non-essential cookies in your browser settings, though parts of the Platform may not work as expected.
5. How long we keep your data
We retain your data for as long as your account is active, plus a reasonable period afterwards for legal, tax, and dispute-resolution reasons. Payment records are typically retained for at least 8 years under Indian tax law.
6. Your rights
Subject to applicable law, you have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you.
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Delete your account and associated personal data.
- Withdraw consent to specific processing where consent is the legal basis.
- File a complaint with the Data Protection Board of India if you believe your rights have been violated.
You can exercise most of these rights from Settingsin-app. For anything you can't self-serve, email us at the address below.
7. Security
We protect your data with encryption in transit, hashed passwords, rate-limited login and OTP endpoints, role-based access controls, and regular security reviews. No system is perfectly secure — please tell us right away if you suspect an issue with your account.
8. Children
The Platform is not directed to anyone under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, contact us and we will delete it.
9. International transfers
Our servers are primarily located in India. If we transfer your data outside India for processing, we take reasonable steps to ensure it continues to receive the protection required by Indian law.
10. Updates to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by email or in-app before the changes take effect.
11. Contact us
Data-protection questions or requests should go to our Grievance Officer at privacy@hardworkers.in. We respond within 30 days of a verified request.