Gig workers across India went on a nationwide strike on New Year’s Eve, disrupting deliveries for platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon, and Flipkart. The strike, organised by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), aimed to protest low wages, unsafe working conditions, arbitrary blocking of worker accounts, and the pressures of 10-minute delivery promises.
Shaik Salauddin, president of TGPWU, said, “This protest is no longer just about pay cuts. It is about survival, safety, and basic rights. Thousands of workers are taking part to make sure their concerns are heard.” The action follows a similar warning strike on December 25, which caused partial disruptions in cities like Gurgaon, Noida, and Hyderabad.
Many delivery workers spoke about the challenges they face. One worker said, “We work 14 hours a day and earn barely ₹700–800. Even if an order is cancelled or delayed, the penalty falls on us. Sometimes our team leaders block our IDs if we complain.” Another added, “Initially, the rate system was fine, but now it is very difficult to earn a decent income. We don’t even get insurance if there is an accident.”
The workers are demanding that the 10-minute delivery model be removed, that old payout systems be restored, that IDs not be blocked without explanation, that algorithm changes affecting earnings be addressed, and that social security and insurance benefits be provided.
The strike affected food, grocery, and e-commerce deliveries during one of the busiest times of the year. Salauddin said, “We want the platforms and the government to take notice. Our work supports these companies, and yet we are left without proper pay or protection.”
Delivery workers have warned that until these issues are addressed, disruptions may continue.
