Gig Workers Plan Massive New Year’s Eve Strike Nationwide
Delivery and cab workers demand end to 10-minute delivery.
Gig and platform workers across India are preparing for a nationwide strike on December 31, New Year’s Eve, in a coordinated protest organized by the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) and the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union. The action will involve delivery executives, cab drivers, and home service personnel from major platforms including Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon, and Flipkart, aiming to press for urgent reforms in pay, safety, and working conditions.
The workers’ core demands include guaranteed income security aligned with statutory minimum wages, a transparent pay structure with a minimum rate of ₹20 per kilometre for ride-hailing drivers, and a fixed eight-hour workday with mandatory overtime compensation. They are also calling for comprehensive social security measures, such as functional insurance to cover accidents, illnesses, and emergencies, underscoring the precarious nature of their employment without traditional employee protections.
A prominent demand is the immediate withdrawal of the “10-minute delivery” model, which workers argue incentivizes reckless driving, compromises road safety, and endangers both riders and the public. Additionally, they seek restrictions on late-night deliveries during high-risk periods, particularly during winter fog, with a specific request to suspend operations after 11 pm when visibility is severely reduced and accident risks are heightened.
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The planned strike follows a recent protest on Christmas Day, December 25, led by the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU), which caused significant disruptions in Gurugram. Delivery services faced long delays in multiple sectors, including Badshahpur, Sohna Road, and Sectors 31, 47, and 48, as hundreds of workers logged off and gathered at key locations such as Rodeo Drive Market Complex and Baani Square.
Some participants in the Christmas protest alleged retaliation by platform management, with reports of rate cards being deleted from apps after team leaders spotted workers at protest sites, creating an atmosphere of fear among those considering participation in the upcoming New Year’s Eve action. The scale of the forthcoming strike, involving workers from multiple cities and platforms, signals growing unrest in the rapidly expanding gig economy.
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