Labour Minister Calls for End to 10-Minute Delivery Services to Safeguard Gig Workers

Minister's Appeal to Quick-Commerce Firms

Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Labour Minister, has urged quick-commerce companies to cease promoting 10-minute delivery services, emphasizing the need to protect the rights and safety of gig workers, as reported by a news outlet on Tuesday.

Officials from the labour ministry revealed that Mandaviya has conducted multiple discussions with representatives from companies like Blinkit, Zepto, Zomato, and Swiggy over the past month, focusing on delivery timelines and their implications for workers.

These discussions followed a call from various unions, including the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers and the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union, for workers on quick-commerce platforms to log off during the last week of December to advocate for reforms in the gig economy.

The workers demanded that platform companies be regulated under labour laws, that the unsafe 10-minute delivery model be banned, and that there be transparency in wages, social security, and the right to organize.

The protests led to disruptions in the operations of Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, and Zepto in multiple cities just before the New Year celebrations.

An unnamed official from the Labour Ministry stated that during the meetings, Mandaviya questioned the platforms regarding their commitment to 10-minute deliveries.

Company representatives explained that such rapid delivery times were made possible by strategically located warehouses, rather than exerting pressure on delivery personnel.

Despite this, the minister insisted that they discontinue this marketing approach for the sake of delivery workers' health and welfare, to which the companies agreed.

In response to this directive, Blinkit has reportedly modified its branding, changing its tagline from '10,000+ products delivered in 10 minutes' to '30,000+ products delivered at your doorstep,' according to the news outlet.

However, the company has not yet provided official confirmation of this change.

Previously, gig workers had also submitted a request to Mandaviya, asking for an end to the 10-20 minute delivery requirements, as reported by another news outlet.

Shaik Salauddin, the general secretary of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers, welcomed the minister's intervention, stating that it addressed long-standing issues.

He remarked, 'The 10-minute delivery model compelled delivery partners to engage in risky road behavior, extreme stress, and unsafe working conditions. We appreciate the minister for listening to workers' concerns and taking decisive action for their safety.'