New Delhi: The Gig and Platform Service Workers Union, led by coordinator Nirmal Gorana, has issued a stern warning of a nationwide strike starting January 30, expressing deep dissatisfaction despite recent government intervention.
The union represents millions of delivery partners working with major platforms like Blinkit, Swiggy, Zomato, and Zepto. Workers complain of no fixed income, forcing them to race against time for incentives, often leading to hazardous road conditions and accidents. They highlight the absence of worker status recognition, minimum wages, health insurance, holidays, and basic safety nets — even as platforms rake in crores in profits.
The unrest intensified after complaints about aggressive “10-minute delivery” promises, which pressured riders into dangerous speeding. In response, Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya convened a meeting with company representatives, stressing that business cannot come at the cost of lives. Platforms subsequently removed time-bound branding and strict deadlines from ads, offering partial relief.
While welcoming this step, the union deems it inadequate. “We appreciate the government’s move, but the real issue is granting gig workers proper worker status and fixing a guaranteed amount so they don’t risk their lives for every order,” Gorana stated. The union has also filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.
If demands — including minimum wages, insurance, and social security — remain unmet by January 30, gig workers across the country plan to down tools, potentially disrupting food and quick commerce deliveries in major cities.
This latest threat underscores the growing clash between platform profits and worker welfare in India’s expanding gig sector.