Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit gig workers call nationwide strike: Here's why
What's the story
Delivery and gig workers associated with major e-commerce and food delivery platforms have announced an all-India strike on Christmas (December 25) and New Year's Eve (December 31). The strike will impact platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon, and Flipkart. The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers and Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union called the protest over "deteriorating working conditions."
Protest reasons
Workers' concerns over wages, safety, job security
The delivery workers have raised concerns over long working hours, declining earnings, unsafe delivery targets, arbitrary account deactivations, and lack of welfare benefits during peak demand periods. Their demands include transparent and fair pay structures, withdrawal of "10-minute delivery" models that put their lives at risk. They also want an end to account blocking without due process and improved safety gear and accident insurance.
Additional demands
Workers demand assured work allocation, stronger app support
The workers have also demanded assured work allocation without algorithmic discrimination, stronger app and technical support, including grievance redressal for routing and payment failures. They want job security and social security such as health insurance, accident coverage, and pension benefits. The workers have urged both Central and state governments to immediately regulate platform companies, enforce labor protections, and implement social security frameworks for gig workers.
Union rights
Workers demand recognition of their right to organize
The workers also want the government to recognize their right to organize and collectively bargain. Mohammad Inayat Ali, national vice president of IFAT, said "the 10-minute delivery model continues to put the workers' lives at great risk." He alleged that companies blackmailed workers who wished to join unions. The strike is a collective call for justice, dignity, and accountability from platform companies profiting at the cost of workers' lives.