Unions representing India's gig economy workforce have intensified their agitation, calling for a nationwide strike on Wednesday. The protest targets the controversial 10-minute delivery model and recent changes to payment structures that workers say have slashed their earnings.
Key Demands and Union Leadership
Leading the charge is the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU). Its president, Shaik Salauddin, articulated the workers' frustrations, stating that the fast-delivery mandate creates unsafe working conditions. He emphasized that the core demands presented to platform companies are clear: reinstate the earlier payout system and eliminate the 10-minute delivery option from all apps.
"We had called for a strike on the 25th and 31st, and on the 25th, 40 thousand workers across India came out in support of it," Salauddin told ANI. He appealed for government intervention, urging both state and central authorities to address the escalating dispute.
Disruption Begins: The December 25 Preview
The protest action has already commenced in phases. According to union data, the demonstration on December 25 saw participation from approximately 40,000 delivery executives across the country. This led to significant operational disruptions, with 50 to 60 per cent of orders experiencing delays during the action.
Salauddin warned that this was merely a precursor to a larger showdown. "What happened on December 25 was just the trailer; the real picture will be seen on December 31," he declared. The upcoming strike is being coordinated under the banner of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), which represents drivers and delivery personnel working for major platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, and Amazon.
Broader Grievances: Algorithms and Social Security
Beyond immediate pay and delivery time issues, union leaders highlighted systemic problems. Salauddin criticized the opaque, algorithm-driven management systems that dictate work and payments without transparency. "Incentives are not being paid properly, and there is no clarity," he alleged.
The unions have presented five key demands to the companies. These include the restoration of fair festival payouts for occasions like Dussehra, Diwali, and Bakrid, the establishment of a proper grievance redressal mechanism, and the provision of social security benefits for all gig workers.
Salauddin also accused aggregator companies of employing intimidation tactics against protesting workers. "Workers are being threatened. Bouncers are being deployed near warehouses, and IDs are being blocked through team leaders and area managers," he claimed, asserting that such pressure would not deter the movement, which he says has the backing of over 1.5 lakh workers nationwide.
