Food delivery and quick-commerce services across India are likely to face major disruptions on December 31 as delivery workers associated with platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto and Blinkit prepare for a nationwide strike. The call for action comes close on the heels of a Christmas Day walkout that caused significant delivery delays across several cities.
The strike is being led by worker unions including the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App Based Transport Workers (IFAT). Union leaders said delivery workers are protesting against low per-order earnings, unsafe delivery targets, arbitrary ID deactivations and the lack of social security.
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As per a report by Times of India, Shaik Salauddin, founder of TGPWU and national general secretary of IFAT, said nearly 40,000 delivery workers participated in the Christmas Day strike across India, leading to delivery disruptions of 50 to 60 per cent in many urban centres. He alleged that instead of addressing worker concerns, companies responded with punitive measures such as ID blocking, police complaints and algorithm-based penalties.
“Our nationwide flash strike has exposed the reality of India’s gig economy,” Salauddin said. “Workers are punished for speaking up through threats and account deactivations. The gig economy cannot be built on unsafe work conditions and silenced voices.”
He added that workers are opposing “10-minute delivery” models, which they say compromise safety, as well as fluctuating incentives linked to ratings. The unions have demanded government intervention to regulate platform companies and ensure fair wages, safety standards and social security benefits.
Platforms Swiggy and Zomato, which also operate Instamart and Blinkit respectively, declined to comment when contacted.
Impact already visible across cities
Customers in Pune, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar reported delivery delays ranging from ninety minutes to two hours on Thursday. Orders could still be placed on apps, however several platforms had trouble assigning delivery partners, which occasionally resulted in cancellations.
The report further says that delivery workers in Pune reported that they were given consecutive orders for longer shifts than 16 hours. Imran Kadri, a delivery partner in the city, said earnings typically range between ₹25 and ₹30 per order, with incentives tied closely to ratings.
“A delayed order or an unhappy customer can affect our rating and reduce earnings,” Kadri said, adding that delivery IDs can be turned off without explanation.
Some workers said they were unable to participate in the strike due to financial pressures. Rahul Baburao, another delivery partner from Pune, said missing even a day of work could affect household expenses. “We need pay that reflects the cost of living in cities,” he said.
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Restaurants have also begun feeling the impact. Saili Jahagirdar, Pune chapter head of the National Restaurants Association, said orders dropped by 30 to 35 per cent compared to regular days. Many restaurants turned to third-party delivery services such as Porter and ShadowFax, though industry representatives fear even those services may be affected during the New Year period.
With December 31 typically being one of the busiest days for food delivery platforms, last year seeing up to three million orders nationwide, industry stakeholders say the coming days will test both delivery networks and negotiations with gig workers.
