“No Pay, No Safety, No Silence: India’s Gig Workers Hit Pause on New Year Deliveries”
India’s gig economy faced major disruption as delivery partners from Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon, and Flipkart launched a nationwide strike on December 25 and December 31, 2025. The protest, timed deliberately around New Year’s Eve peak demand, highlighted growing anger over low pay, unsafe working conditions, and zero social security.
Organized by unions such as the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), the strike affected major cities including Mumbai, along with several tier-2 hubs. Customers reported long delays, order cancellations, and app unavailability, especially during New Year celebrations.
Why Gig Workers Are Protesting
Workers say delivery platforms push them into dangerous work models while steadily cutting earnings. Their key demands include:
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Minimum ₹35 per delivery (up to 4 km)
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Scrapping 10-minute delivery targets that force rash driving
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No arbitrary ID blocking without explanation or appeal
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Mandatory rest breaks and safety gear
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Health insurance, accident cover, and pension benefits
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Transparent algorithms for fair order allocation
Unions argue that rising fuel costs and falling payouts have made gig work unsustainable. Despite the Social Security Code mandating 1–2% platform contributions, workers say they receive no real welfare support.
Scale and Impact of the Strike
More than 40,000 workers reportedly joined protests across metros and smaller cities. In Mumbai, delivery partners gathered at Azad Maidan, raising slogans against what they called “algorithmic exploitation.”
Food delivery, quick commerce, and e-commerce services were among the worst hit, with many users facing delays during one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Platforms like Zomato and Swiggy reportedly increased payouts temporarily to reduce disruption. However, unions warned that short-term incentives won’t fix long-term problems.
What Happens Next?
TGPWU President Shaik Salauddin criticized platforms for expanding rapidly while denying workers basic protections. With no major resolution announced by December 31, unions signaled that further protests may follow unless central and state governments step in.
As India’s multi-billion-dollar quick-commerce sector grows, the strike exposes a hard truth: speed and convenience come at a human cost.
