Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon & Other Platforms' Gig Workers To Go on Nationwide Strike Today, 25 Dec

Delivery workers associated with major e-commerce and food delivery platforms including Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon and Flipkart will observe a nationwide flash strike on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, protesting what they describe as deteriorating working conditions in India's rapidly expanding gig and platform economy.

Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon & Other Platforms' Gig Workers All India Strike Today on 25 December and 31st December

As part of the protest, delivery partners from each platform will stop work for two hours, disrupting services temporarily across multiple cities. The action has been called by the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) in coordination with the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU).

Delivery Workers Protest Today For Wage, Safety and Job Security Concerns

According to the TGPWU, the all-India protest seeks to draw attention to the denial of fair wages, workplace safety, dignity, and social security for delivery workers employed through digital platforms. The unions argue that despite the sector's rapid growth, workers continue to face declining incomes, unsafe working conditions and a lack of basic labour protections.

Key Demands Raised by Delivery Workers

Among the workers' primary demands is the introduction of transparent and fair wage structures across platforms. They have also called for the immediate withdrawal of "10-minute delivery" models, which they claim place excessive pressure on delivery workers and endanger their lives.

Other demands include an end to arbitrary penalties, sudden ID deactivations, and algorithm-driven decisions that affect earnings and work allocation without transparency. Workers are also seeking improved safety measures, including the provision of protective gear and comprehensive accident insurance coverage.

Call for Fair Work Practices and Social Security

The unions have further demanded assured work allocation without algorithmic discrimination, mandatory rest breaks, reasonable working hours, and stronger grievance redressal mechanisms to address technical glitches and payment-related issues. Job security remains a major concern, with workers calling for protection against sudden loss of work.

In addition, delivery workers are seeking comprehensive social security benefits, including health insurance, accident coverage, and pension schemes, arguing that gig workers continue to remain outside the ambit of most labour welfare laws.

Appeal for Government Intervention

Calling for immediate intervention, the unions urged both the Central and state governments to regulate platform-based companies, enforce existing labour protections, implement dedicated social security frameworks for gig workers, and formally recognise their right to collective bargaining.

Shaik Salauddin, founder president of the TGPWU and national general secretary of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers, said delivery workers were being "pushed to breaking point by unsafe work models, falling incomes, and the total absence of social protection." He added that the two-hour flash strike represents a collective call for justice, dignity, and fair treatment for workers powering India's digital delivery economy.

Delivery Workers Strike Impact on Services

While the strike is limited to a two-hour window, users in major cities may experience temporary disruptions in food delivery and e-commerce services during Christmas and New Year's Eve, traditionally peak demand periods for these platforms.