Gig workers have called a nationwide strike ahead of the New Year to press for their demands, impacting instant-delivery platforms like Swiggy, Zomato,
Zepto and Amazon. The delivery partners have assembled under the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) demanding that their five key demands are immediately accepted, Shaik Salauddin, Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) President told news agency ANI. These gig workers across the country are raising issues that they believe are important for improving their working conditions and it also includes the removal of "10-minute delivery system". The call for the protest was given by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU). The union’s founder and president, Salauddin, said the strike is being organised in response to what workers describe as unfair policies followed by platform-based companies. He added that several concerns raised by workers have remained unaddressed despite repeated appeals, news agency ANI reported. Also Read - Hustle Files: ‘Is This a Living?’ Blinkit Rider’s Rs 52-an-Hour Reality - A look into Gig Economy Salauddin said gig workers have consistently raised their demands with platform companies, particularly seeking the restoration of an older payout structure. “Earlier, during festivals such as Dussehra, Diwali, and Bakrid, fair payments were made. That system must be implemented again regularly,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.
5 Key Demands of Gig Workers
According to the union, five key demands have been placed before platform companies. These include the restoration of the earlier payout system, which workers say offered more stable and transparent earnings than the current model.
Secondly, they are also demanding the withdrawal of the 10-minute delivery system. Workers claim the fast-delivery model forces them to rush, increases stress, and puts their safety at risk on the roads.
Another major concern raised by the union relates to the blocking or deactivation of worker accounts. Salauddin alleged that delivery partners’ IDs are often suspended without clear reasons or proper communication, leaving workers without income and with no effective grievance redressal mechanism.
The union has also flagged the use of algorithms by platform companies, stating that these systems impact incentives and overall earnings, making incomes unpredictable and financially unstable for gig workers.
The fifth demand relates to the introduction of social security benefits, with the union calling for insurance coverage and welfare measures. It pointed out that gig workers continue to remain outside basic social protection despite their growing role in the workforce.
Salauddin said the union has decided to proceed with a flash strike on December 31 due to the lack of progress on these issues. He appealed to gig and platform workers across the country to participate in the protest peacefully, adding that the strike aims to draw the attention of companies and policymakers to the urgent challenges faced by gig workers.
