Nationwide Strike by Gig and Platform Workers Targets “10-Minute Delivery” and Pay Practices
Delivery partners and app-based workers associated with quick-commerce and food delivery platforms (including Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon, Flipkart) staged a nationwide strike on December 31, pressing for improved earnings, safer conditions, and the removal of ultra-fast “10-minute delivery” mandates. Worker unions—such as the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT)—argued that hyper-accelerated service commitments often compress margins, elevate risk on roads, and strain the workforce during peak holiday demand.
The strike follows a series of region-specific actions earlier in December, signaling broader unrest in India’s rapidly expanding gig economy. As quick-commerce platforms compete on speed and availability, workers contend that algorithmic dispatch and incentive structures need recalibration to support sustainable earnings, predictable schedules, and safety-first routing. City authorities, meanwhile, stepped up New Year’s Eve road safety campaigns—including checks against drunk driving and stunt biking—to reduce accident risks as crowds gather for festivities, an enforcement priority that intersects with delivery traffic patterns in major metros.