Nationwide Strike by Gig Workers Ahead of New Year

As the New Year approaches, gig workers in India are preparing for a nationwide strike that could disrupt delivery services significantly. The protests, organized by the Gig Workers Union, aim to address issues such as unsafe delivery targets and declining earnings. Workers are demanding the removal of the 10-minute delivery option and a return to previous payment structures. With thousands expected to participate, major cities may face delays and cancellations in food and grocery deliveries. The union is calling for government intervention to regulate platform companies and ensure fair treatment for workers. This strike highlights the ongoing struggles faced by gig workers in the rapidly evolving app-based economy.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 31, 2025, 11:40 IST

Impact of the Upcoming Strike

The eve of the New Year is typically one of the busiest days for online orders, making the planned protests likely to disrupt food delivery, quick commerce, and e-commerce services across various cities. Workers associated with platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon, and Flipkart are expected to participate in the strike. Unions have indicated that this action could adversely affect retailers and platforms that heavily rely on last-mile delivery to meet year-end sales targets.

Gig Workers Union Calls for Nationwide Strike

Ahead of the nationwide strike scheduled for Wednesday, the Gig Workers Union has reiterated its demands to eliminate the 10-minute delivery option and restore the previous payment structure. Union leaders have expressed that the current delivery model places unsafe pressure on workers and has significantly reduced their earnings.

Concerns Over Fast Delivery Models

Sheikh Salahuddin, president of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union, stated that the fast delivery model forces workers to take risks on the roads, while frequent changes in the payment system have led to a decline in their income. He mentioned that thousands of workers across the country are preparing to join the protests, which could disrupt delivery services during peak hours.

Demands for Change

Salahuddin told a news outlet, "We demand that platform companies reinstate the old payment structure and remove the 10-minute delivery option from all platforms. We are open to discussions and urge both state and central governments to intervene in this matter."

Reasons Behind the Protests

According to unions, delivery partners, who are essential to India's app-based commerce system, are being forced to work longer hours while their earnings are decreasing. They allege that workers face unsafe delivery targets, limited job security, a lack of respect at work, and almost no access to basic social security. In a letter sent to the Union Labour Minister, the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) stated that it represents around 400,000 app-based transport and delivery workers nationwide.

Previous Strikes and Ongoing Issues

The federation noted that workers had already conducted a sudden nationwide strike on December 25, which caused a 50-60% disruption in services across several cities. This protest aimed to highlight issues such as unsafe delivery models, declining incomes, arbitrary ID blocking, and a lack of social security.

Call for Government Intervention

The federation also claimed that after the December 25 protest, platform companies failed to engage with workers. Instead, they alleged that companies responded with threats, account deactivations, and algorithm-based penalties. The letter further accused the companies of using third-party agencies to undermine the strike.

Potential Impact on Customers

During the strike on December 31, customers may experience delays and cancellations as delivery executives log off from apps or significantly reduce their work. Major cities like Pune, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, along with several tier-2 markets, are expected to be affected in terms of food orders, grocery deliveries, and last-minute shopping.

Demands for Regulatory Changes

In their letter, IFAT urged the government to regulate platform companies under labor laws and ban unsafe delivery models that involve extremely fast delivery timelines. They also called for a halt to arbitrary ID blocking, a fair and transparent wage system, health coverage, accident insurance, pension benefits, and the protection of workers' rights to organize and collectively bargain.

Urgent Call for Tripartite Dialogue

The federation has demanded immediate government intervention and called for tripartite discussions involving the government, platform companies, and worker unions. The letter was signed by Sheikh Salahuddin, co-founder and National General Secretary of IFAT, and Inayat Ali, founder of the Karnataka App-Based Workers Union and National Vice-President of the federation. Copies of the letter were also sent to senior officials in the Ministry of Labour and Employment.