Author: Aashiya Jain | EQMint | General News

 

As India prepares to ring in the New Year, thousands of delivery partners across the country are planning something very different from celebration. On December 31, gig workers associated with major food delivery and quick-commerce platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, and Blinkit have announced an all India strike, calling for better pay, safer working conditions, and basic social security.

 

For customers, it may mean delayed orders or no deliveries at all on one of the busiest nights of the year. For workers, it is about something much deeper being seen, heard, and treated as human beings, not disposable app icons.This strike is not a cry for help but a firm refusal to not scrummage to company’s cruel rules. 

 

Why December 31 Matters

New Year’s Eve is one of the most demanding days for gig workers,hence the perfect time to carry out the strike . Orders surge, working hours stretch late into the night, and delivery partners often navigate congested roads, drunk driving risks, and unsafe conditions all while racing against algorithmic deadlines.

 

Many workers say December 31 represents everything that feels unfair about the system.

“People celebrate inside warm homes,” said a delivery partner in Delhi. “We are outside till 2 or 3 in the morning, chasing incentives that sometimes don’t even come.”

 

Calling the strike on this day is symbolic a way to highlight how platform profits peak when worker vulnerability is highest.

 

The Core Reasons Behind the Strike

Gig worker unions and collectives across states have cited several long-standing grievances:

 

1. Falling Earnings, Rising Costs
Workers say per-order payouts have steadily declined, while fuel prices, vehicle maintenance, and mobile data costs continue to rise. Many claim they now earn significantly less per hour than they did two or three years ago.

“What used to be ₹40 per delivery is now ₹20 or less,” a Mumbai-based rider said. “But petrol hasn’t gone down.”

 

2. Unpredictable Incentives
Incentives once a reliable way to boost income  are now seen as opaque and unreliable. Workers allege targets change without notice and payouts are often delayed or recalculated.

 

“You plan your day around an incentive,” one worker explained. “Then suddenly it disappears from the app.”

 

3. No Social Security or Insurance Clarity
Despite being called “partners,” gig workers say they lack basic protections like health insurance, accident coverage, paid leave, or compensation during illness.

 

“If I fall sick, I don’t earn. If I get injured, I’m on my own,” said a delivery worker from Bengaluru.

 

4. Algorithmic Pressure and Account Deactivations
Workers say automated systems penalize them for delays caused by traffic, restaurant wait times, or weather. Sudden account suspensions without explanation or appeal have left many families without income overnight.

 

“There is no human to talk to,” one worker said. “Just an email saying your account is blocked.”

 

A Life on the Road, Not Just a Side Hustle

For many, gig work is no longer “extra income.” It is the primary livelihood supporting families, rent, children’s education, and medical expenses.

Workers describe days that start at 8 am and stretch past midnight, with few breaks and constant pressure to accept more orders. Festivals and holidays when others rest are often their busiest days.

 

“We don’t mind working hard,” said a delivery partner in Hyderabad. “We just want fairness and respect.”

 

What the Workers Are Demanding

The strike is not just a protest it comes with clear demands:

• Minimum per-order pay and transparent incentive structures
• Fuel cost compensation during high-demand days
• Health insurance, accident coverage, and social security benefits
• Fair grievance redressal with human support
• Protection from arbitrary account deactivations

Unions argue that as platforms scale and post strong revenues, workers deserve a share of stability, not just risk.

 

How Platforms and Customers Are Affected

A nationwide strike on December 31 could disrupt food delivery and quick commerce services in multiple cities. While platforms may attempt contingency plans, workers say the scale of participation will be hard to ignore.

 

Some customers have expressed frustration, but others have shown solidarity online, urging people to cook at home or plan ahead as a gesture of support.

 

“Missing one night of food delivery is inconvenient,” a social media user wrote. “Living without job security is far worse.”

 

More Than a Strike, a Moment of Reckoning

At its heart, this strike is about dignity. About asking whether convenience for millions should come at the cost of insecurity for those who deliver it.

 

As fireworks light up the sky on December 31, many delivery workers will be standing still for once  not waiting for an order ping, not racing against a timer  but hoping their pause finally forces the country to listen.

 

“This is not against customers,” one worker said quietly. “It’s for our families.”

 

And perhaps that is the most human reason of all.

 

For more such a information : EQMint

Resource Link : POST