Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha has stepped forward to mediate between major platform companies and their gig workers. This move comes as unions have called for a nationwide strike on New Year's Eve, December 31, which could disrupt services across the country.
Chadha's Call for Dignity and Fair Treatment
Raghav Chadha emphasized that the delivery personnel, who form the core of the instant commerce ecosystem, must be treated with respect. He stressed they are not mere robots programmed to deliver items under unrealistic time pressures but are individuals with families and lives.
"I am willing to mediate between the companies and gig workers. They deserve dignity and respect at work," the AAP MP stated. He described them as "the backbone of billion-dollar companies and the invisible wheels driving the Digital India initiative."
Chadha revealed that after spending considerable time with a Blinkit delivery rider, he has begun documenting their grievances. He plans to raise these issues directly with company managements to seek tangible solutions, social security, and dignified working conditions. He believes the crisis is solvable but requires flexibility from the corporate side.
The Nationwide New Year's Eve Strike
The strike call has been given by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers' Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT). The unions claim that lakhs of app-based delivery and transport workers are set to participate in the protest.
Their primary demands include better payouts, improved working conditions, social security benefits, relief from unsafe delivery pressures, and stable employment terms. The strike is strategically planned for December 31, a day when demand for food delivery and quick commerce services peaks due to New Year's Eve celebrations.
Services of major platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, BlinkIt, Instamart, and Zepto are expected to be significantly impacted. In a joint statement, the unions claimed, "As of last night, over 1.7 lakh delivery and app-based workers across India have confirmed participation, with numbers expected to rise further by evening."
Companies Respond with Incentives
Anticipating massive service disruptions, leading platforms have announced enhanced incentives to ensure adequate rider availability on the busy night.
Zomato has offered its delivery partners payouts ranging from ₹120 to ₹150 per order between 6 pm and 12 am. The company has also promised potential daily earnings of up to ₹3,000, depending on order volumes. Additionally, penalties for order denials and cancellations have been temporarily waived.
Similarly, Swiggy has increased incentives for the year-end period. According to sources, delivery workers can earn up to ₹10,000 across December 31 and January 1. For the crucial six-hour window on New Year's Eve (6 pm to 12 am), the platform is advertising peak-hour earnings of up to ₹2,000.
Raghav Chadha expressed solidarity with the striking workers, stating that their one-day protest highlights genuine demands. He argued that even small investments in gig workers' welfare and the implementation of fair rules could ensure justice and keep them motivated, ultimately sustaining the digital economy they power.
