The Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) has called for a nationwide strike on Tuesday, December 31, 2025, demanding significant improvements in pay and working conditions for app-based delivery personnel. The protest action, which follows a similar strike on December 25, is expected to disrupt food and grocery delivery services on New Year's Eve.
Core Demands of the Gig Workers' Union
In a formal letter addressed to Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Mansukh Mandaviya, the union's president Seema Singh and national coordinator Nirmal Gorana have submitted a list of fifteen critical demands. The GIPSWU, which claims to be India's first women-led national trade union for gig and platform workers, is spearheading this movement.
The primary demands include the immediate discontinuation of 10-minute and 20-minute delivery service mandates, which workers argue are unsafe and exploitative. The union is pushing for a standardized minimum per-kilometre rate of Rs 20 for those working with major platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Flipkart, and BigBasket.
Furthermore, the union has demanded a guaranteed minimum monthly earning of Rs 40,000 for all workers. They are also seeking the abolition of restrictive systems such as peak hours, slot-based assignments, and weekend hour limits that control their earning potential.
Systemic Reforms and Worker Protections
Beyond pay, the demands focus on systemic reforms and essential protections. Key among these are:
- Emergency leave and comprehensive maternity protection for women workers.
- An end to arbitrary ID blocking and punitive customer rating systems.
- Compensation for orders cancelled by customers after acceptance.
- Replacement of AI-based support calls with 24/7 human customer service.
- Elimination of mandatory pre- and post-task photo uploads and other proof-of-work requirements.
- Restoration of company hubs for workers and limiting work assignments for women to a seven-kilometre radius from their homes for safety.
A Call for Government Intervention
In their communication to the minister, the union highlighted the systemic exclusion of gig workers from core labour rights under Indian law. They cited reports of pervasive harassment, discrimination, and violence faced by workers on the job.
"This strike unites gig workers and allies to demand immediate government intervention," the union stated. "We would like to reiterate that Bharat can't be Vikasit until its workers, part of India's booming economy, continue to be exploited. Each demand is aligned with applicable labour laws."
The strike action underscores the growing organized pushback from India's vast gig workforce, seeking formal recognition, fair wages, and dignified working conditions in the rapidly expanding platform economy.
