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The proposed strike is being led by the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), which has written to Labor and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya seeking immediate government intervention.
Why are gig workers protesting?
Unions say delivery workers are protesting against unsafe working conditions and aggressive delivery targets, declining wages, arbitrary ID or account blocking, police harassment and a lack of dignity and social security. They argue that while platforms rely on flexible labour, workers remain outside core labor protections.
Key demands include immediate government intervention and regulation of platform companies under labor laws, an end to arbitrary ID blocking and penalties, fair and predictable wages, protection of the right to organize and bargain collectively, mandatory rest leaves and strict enforcement of labor protection measures.
Platforms increase incentives
In this backdrop, Swiggy and Zomato have announced additional incentives to ensure rider availability during peak hours on New Year’s Eve.
swiggy It is offering ₹30 per order between 4-6 pm, ₹105 per order between 6-10 pm and ₹80 per order between 10 pm and midnight.
zomato It is offering ₹30 per order between 4-6 pm, ₹100 per order between 6-10 pm, ₹80 per order between 10 pm and midnight and ₹80 per order between 12 pm and 4 am.
Industry estimates show that delivery partners typically earn around ₹25 per order for food delivery, highlighting a sharp jump in payments during peak windows.
According to sources, quick-commerce platforms Instamart, Blinkit and Zepto have also offered higher incentives during peak hours.
Swiggy and Zomato declined to comment on both the proposed strike and the additional payments.
Potential impact on platforms
According to estimates cited by brokerage Elara, widespread participation in the strike could lead to a 10-20% drop in order volumes, which could lead to a 0.3-0.7% impact on food delivery and quick-commerce revenues for platforms like Eternity and Swiggy.
With festive days typically seeing around 60% more orders per day, any disruption is likely to be concentrated in select southern metro markets.
Mixed signals from earlier protests
Gig workers had also protested on December 25, with unions claiming the participation of around 40,000 delivery workers across the country. However, the platform and customers reported little or no disruption to services that day.
Analysts say several factors could limit the success of a mass strike on Dec. 31, including the fact that New Year’s Eve is one of the highest-earning days for gig workers, the highly unorganized nature of the sector and log-in decisions that are largely driven by individual availability and income incentives.
Still, unions say the strike threat reflects deeper structural issues in the gig economy, which they say can’t be addressed through short-term incentives alone.