Following government intervention, quick commerce companies in India have removed claims of 10-minute deliveries from their platforms, citing concerns over the safety of gig workers, according to the Ministry of Labour.
The Ministry said ultra-fast delivery timelines were found to pose risks to delivery partners, prompting changes in the operating models of quick commerce platforms. After multiple rounds of discussions between the Ministry and company executives, platforms offering deliveries within 10 minutes decided to discontinue the promise.
Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya led the consultations with quick commerce companies, during which the issue of worker safety was repeatedly highlighted. The Ministry observed that stringent delivery timelines were creating unsafe working conditions for gig workers, particularly by encouraging high-speed driving and risk-taking on roads.
According to the Ministry, pressure to meet a 10-minute delivery window had led to traffic violations, road accidents, and increased mental stress among delivery partners. Officials stated that no business model should compromise worker safety or health.
As per information shared by news agency ANI, senior officials from quick commerce companies attended a meeting convened by the Ministry of Labour to examine delivery timelines and their impact. The discussions concluded that rigid delivery targets were placing unhealthy pressure on gig workers, with several delivery partners acknowledging that they were taking personal risks to meet deadlines.
During the meetings, Mandaviya conveyed that while customer service remains important, worker safety must take precedence. He stated that technological convenience cannot come at the cost of human lives and that the government cannot support business models that force workers into unsafe conditions.
Blinkit was the first company to implement changes following the government’s advisory. The company altered its platform messaging, replacing its earlier claim of delivering more than 10,000 products within 10 minutes with a revised message highlighting delivery of over 30,000 products to customers’ doorsteps without a specified time promise.
Zepto, Zomato, and Swiggy are also in the process of removing the 10-minute delivery commitment from their platforms. These companies have stated that delivery timelines will be made more realistic to allow gig workers to operate safely and without undue pressure.
The issue of gig worker welfare had also been raised in Parliament. Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha had highlighted the working conditions of delivery partners, noting that they operate in extreme heat, rain, and cold while facing strict delivery deadlines.
Policy support for gig workers has been reinforced through the Code on Social Security 2020, which came into force on November 21, 2025. The law formally defines gig workers and platform workers and provides for benefits including life insurance, accident insurance, health benefits, maternity benefits, and old-age protection.
Under the law, a dedicated social security fund will be established to finance welfare schemes for gig workers. A National Social Security Board will also be constituted to monitor and safeguard their interests.
