Gig workers across the country are on strike on the eve of New Year 2026. Deliveries for Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Flipkart, and Blinkit will be completely suspended. The main demands are fair wages, working hours, and safety.
New Delhi: Today, December 31st, deliveries will not be available on all delivery apps across the country, including Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Flipkart, and Blinkit. Gig workers have announced a strike over demands for fair wages, safety, and other basic rights. This strike, occurring just before New Year's Eve, will directly impact customers. As such, consumers should not expect delivery of food or other goods through online services.
Main Demands of Gig Workers
Sheikh Salauddin, National General Secretary of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), stated that gig workers will peacefully protest nationwide today and will keep all app-based platforms offline. Gig workers say they warned companies last week on December 25th, but no discussions were held with them. Their safety and working hours were also not addressed. This is why the strike became necessary.
The primary demands of gig workers are fair wages, fixed working hours, safety measures, and transparency in incentives. They claim that companies have been consistently silent on these demands, and therefore, the government should intervene immediately.
Reduction in Incentives and Wages
Sheikh Salauddin said that the wages received by gig workers for each order have been reduced. Additionally, compensation based on distance and time has also been decreased. This has made it difficult for workers to earn incentives. As a result, gig workers are having to work harder for less pay than before.
Workers say this is not just a protest, but a fight for their livelihood and basic rights. Online platforms have increased the workload through algorithms. The pressure to deliver within 10 minutes forces gig workers to drive at high speeds, increasing the risk of accidents and mental stress.
Exploitation of Gig Workers
Gig workers say they are being forced to work like machines. Despite long working hours, they do not receive incentives. Sheikh Salauddin explained that workers have to work continuously for 10-10 hours, which has a negative impact on their physical and mental health.
The workers' problems are not limited to hard work. They say that the algorithm has disproportionately increased the burden of order timing and distance. The pressure to make more deliveries in a short amount of time puts them at risk from a safety perspective.
Impact of the Strike
Due to today's strike, many people who rely on online orders on New Year's Eve may be inconvenienced. Services like Swiggy, Zomato, Flipkart, and Amazon will be completely suspended. Food, gifts, and other items for New Year's parties will not be delivered on time.
Workers say this strike is simply a means of raising their voices. They hope that companies and the government will take their problems seriously and find appropriate solutions.
The Voice of Gig Workers
Sheikh Salauddin said that gig workers have been struggling for their rights for a long time. They say that if the government and companies do not ensure their safety, wages, and transparency in incentives, such demonstrations and strikes will continue in the future.
Workers say their role in the gig economy is important and that digital and online platforms are incomplete without them. Therefore, their demands for rights and safety cannot be ignored.
