Delivery and gig workers from major food delivery and e-commerce platforms, including Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon, and Flipkart, are observing an all-India strike on December 25 and 31. The protest highlights deteriorating working conditions and the denial of fair wages, safety, dignity, and social security.
“Despite being the backbone of last-mile delivery, especially during peak seasons and festivals, delivery workers face long hours, falling earnings, unsafe delivery targets, arbitrary ID blocking, lack of job security, and absence of basic welfare protections,” said the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT).
Key Demands
Workers are calling for a fair and transparent wage structure and the immediate withdrawal of the “10-minute delivery” model. Other demands include:
- Ending arbitrary ID blocking and penalties without due process.
- Improved safety measures, including proper safety gear.
- Assured and consistent work allocation without algorithmic discrimination.
- Respectful treatment by platforms and customers.
- Mandatory rest breaks and reasonable working hours.
- Better app and technical support, including grievance redressal for routing and payment failures.
- Job security and social security, including health insurance, accident coverage, and pension benefits.
The workers are also urging government intervention, calling on both Central and State authorities to regulate platform companies immediately.
“Delivery workers are being pushed to breaking point by unsafe work models, falling incomes, and absence of social protection. This strike is a collective call for justice, dignity, and accountability. The government can no longer remain a silent spectator while platform companies profit at the cost of workers’ lives,” said Shaik Salauddin, Founder and President of TGPWU.
