Nationwide Strike Unfolds Among Gig Workers for Better Compensation and Conditions
On Wednesday, a segment of gig workers initiated a work stoppage to advocate for improved pay and working conditions. However, the disruption had minimal effect on the e-commerce and food delivery sectors, which observed a bustling business on New Year’s Eve.
Despite the protests in various locations, companies such as Zomato and Swiggy chose to enhance incentives for their delivery partners, a customary strategy during festive periods, to ensure operational continuity on New Year’s Eve.
The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU), alongside the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), has asserted that hundreds of thousands of workers are poised to engage in a nationwide strike, demanding higher wages and better working conditions.
While the unions claim significant participation among their members, particularly from food delivery and quick commerce enterprises like Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Instamart, and Zepto, insiders report that business operations continued as usual for these platforms on New Year’s Eve.
In light of the strike, Zomato has offered delivery partners payouts ranging from Rs 120 to Rs 150 per order during peak hours from 6 PM to midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Additionally, reports indicate that workers could potentially earn up to Rs 3,000 throughout the day, contingent upon order volumes and availability of labor.
Zomato has also temporarily suspended penalties related to order cancellations and refusals, reinforcing that this is standard operational protocol during periods of heightened demand, as clarified by a company spokesperson.
“This is part of our standard policy during festive times, which characteristically yield increased earning opportunities due to a surge in demand,” the spokesperson stated.
Likewise, Swiggy has stepped up incentives for delivery personnel, projecting earnings of up to Rs 10,000 for the days surrounding December 31 and January 1.
The company articulated, “At Swiggy, we are devoted to empowering our delivery partners, and enhanced incentives are a customary practice during significant events, allowing workers to capitalize on elevated earning potential during peak periods.”
On New Year’s Eve, Swiggy advertised peak-hour rates whereby delivery partners could earn up to Rs 2,000 during the prime hours of 6 PM to midnight, aiming to ensure sufficient rider availability amidst one of the busiest ordering periods of the year.
In a collaborative announcement, TGPWU and IFAT conveyed, “As of last night, more than 170,000 delivery and app-based workers across India have confirmed their intent to participate in the strike, with numbers anticipated to ascend further by evening.”
Conversely, following a considerable strike on December 25—which saw substantial numbers of delivery workers log off in Telangana and other regions—gig workers have escalated their plans for a nationwide strike set for December 31, 2025, according to a joint declaration from TGPWU and IFAT.
“The actions taken on December 25 conveyed a strong message to platform companies regarding dwindling earnings, increasing pressure during deliveries, and erosion of dignity in the workplace.
However, companies have responded with a stark silence—failing to restore reduced payouts or engage in meaningful dialogue with workers,” the statement lamented.
The Gig and Platform Service Workers Union has additionally proclaimed a nationwide strike for December 31, 2025, to collectively advance demands for the rights, welfare, and dignity of gig and platform workers throughout the nation.
In a rallying call, the union emphasized, “We urge all gig workers, platform workers, digital platform workers, app-based workers, and online freelancers to participate in the national strike by ceasing all work-related applications and refraining from providing services on December 31, 2025. This will ensure a unified and impactful strike.”
The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) general secretary, Amarjeet Kaur, expressed her support for the gig workers, advocating for the recognition of their status as industrial workers.
“They are often labeled as partners by the platforms they represent; disturbingly, three out of four labor codes make no mention of gig workers,” she asserted.
Source link: M.economictimes.com.
