Gig Workers Strike On New Year's Eve To Disrupt Swiggy, Zomato Orders: What Are Their Demands And Which Cities Will Be Hit?

Gig Workers Strike: New Year’s Eve celebrations across India could face significant disruptions today as gig workers from major delivery platforms, including Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon, and Flipkart, gear up for a nationwide strike on December 31.

The strike, scheduled on the year’s busiest sales day, threatens to delay deliveries, disrupt last-minute shopping plans, and create chaos among customers, possibly dampening New Year celebrations across the country.

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Gig Workers Strike: Why Are They Protesting And What Are Their Demands?

The nationwide strike has been called by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT). Regional unions from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi-NCR, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu have also joined the strike.

Gig workers, often described as the backbone of India’s digital commerce ecosystem, have voiced concerns over deteriorating working conditions, driven largely by intense competition to complete faster deliveries. Unions representing the gig workers have also highlighted growing concerns over unrealistic work targets and job security, arguing that platform companies have excessive control over the algorithms that determine assignments and pay.

Gig Workers Demands

End of Fast Delivery Targets: Withdrawal of 10-minute delivery systems.

Fair Treatment: No account suspensions without due process.

Transparent Payments: Clear payment systems reflecting actual hours worked and all associated costs.

Workplace Safety: Improved safety measures and provision of accident insurance.

Algorithm Accountability: Removal of platform control over pay and work targets.

Enhanced Support: Stronger app and technical support, including grievance redressal for routing or payment issues, as well as improved job security and social benefits.

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Gig Workers Strike On New Year’s Eve: Which Cities Will Be Affected?

As a part of the nationwide strike, over 100,000 delivery workers across India will either not log in to their apps or remain active for only a limited period on December 31. Major metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, are expected to face the most significant disruptions, while deliveries in tier-two cities such as Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Indore, and Patna may also be impacted.