Nationwide Strike by Delivery Workers Ahead of New Year Celebrations

As the world prepares to welcome 2026, a nationwide strike by delivery workers threatens to disrupt New Year celebrations. Major platforms like Swiggy and Zomato are affected, with over 100,000 workers participating. The strike, organized by various unions, aims to address poor working conditions and demands fair wages and safety measures. Key cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata are expected to face significant service interruptions. This situation raises awareness about the challenges faced by gig workers in the delivery sector, highlighting their crucial role in the economy yet lack of adequate support.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 31, 2025, 16:06 IST

Countdown to 2026 Begins Amid Delivery Workers' Strike

As the year 2025 comes to a close, the countdown to the New Year has commenced. In just a few hours, people around the globe will celebrate the arrival of 2026. However, those planning to shop online or prepare for parties may face significant disruptions. Major delivery platforms, including Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, and Flipkart, have announced a nationwide strike ahead of New Year's Eve. This could lead to challenges in ordering food for celebrations and receiving online deliveries.

Cities Affected by the Strike

The strike is organized by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers. It is expected to impact services in metropolitan areas such as Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. Additionally, tier-2 cities like Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Indore, and Patna may also experience disruptions in delivery services.

Over 100,000 Workers Participating in the Strike

Various regional unions from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi NCR, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu are participating in this strike. They claim that more than 100,000 delivery workers across the country will either not be active on apps or will only be available for a limited time.

Reasons Behind the Strike

This strike is reminiscent of a previous one that occurred on Christmas Day. The unions argue that despite increasing demands for gig workers, there has been no change in their working conditions. Companies are failing to provide fair wages and adequate safety guarantees. The strike highlights the poor conditions faced by delivery workers, who often become victims of accidents due to the 10-minute delivery model. Despite working in various weather conditions, they lack essential benefits such as accident insurance, health coverage, and pensions.

Demands of Gig Workers

The workers have outlined nine key demands in their statement:

- Implementation of a fair and transparent wage structure.

- Immediate cessation of the 10-minute delivery model.

- A halt to blocking IDs and imposing penalties without due process.

- Provision of necessary safety gear and measures.

- Equal work opportunities without algorithmic discrimination.

- Respectful treatment from platforms and customers.

- Assurance of breaks during work and no excessive hours.

- Strengthening of app and technical support, especially for payment and routing issues.

- Ensuring social security measures like health insurance, accident coverage, and pensions.

Who Are Gig Workers?

Gig workers are those engaged in delivery-related jobs, earning income through temporary work. Their contributions are vital across various sectors, from IT to e-commerce. However, they often receive inadequate compensation and lack sufficient safety measures from companies.