India’s gig economy could see major disruption on December 31 as delivery workers across foodtech and ecommerce platforms have called for a nationwide strike. The call has been issued by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union, urging riders and drivers associated with companies like Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Amazon and Flipkart to stay off the road on one of the busiest days of the year.
The protest is aimed at drawing attention to what workers describe as steadily worsening conditions in the platform economy. According to the union, delivery partners face unsafe working environments, unpredictable pay structures and growing pressure to meet aggressive delivery timelines. Many workers say incentive based earnings have become harder to achieve, while penalties and account blocks are imposed without clear explanations or due process.
A major point of contention is the rise of ultra fast delivery promises, including ten minute deliveries, which workers argue put their safety at risk. The union is demanding the immediate withdrawal of such models, along with the introduction of transparent wage calculations, mandatory rest breaks and basic social security benefits.
Gig workers are also protesting the lack of grievance redressal systems. Several riders claim their IDs are blocked arbitrarily, cutting off their only source of income overnight. The absence of insurance coverage and income protection has further intensified dissatisfaction within the workforce.
If participation is widespread, customers may experience delays or unavailability of delivery services on December 31. While platforms have not officially responded to the strike call yet, the protest highlights a growing tension between rapid growth expectations and the realities faced by the people powering these apps on the ground.
As India’s gig economy continues to expand, the strike underscores the urgent need for fairer policies that balance convenience with worker welfare.
