If reports are to be believed, online food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy will now offer increased incentives to their delivery partners. This is a standard practice during the festive season, to minimize disruptions to order delivery services on New Year’s Eve amid calls for a strike by gig workers’ unions.
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New Delhi: Gig and delivery workers responsible for delivering online food and grocery orders called for a nationwide strike on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the eve of New Year's Day 2026, leaving major companies in the sector stunned.
According to reports, amid fears of delivery disruptions on New Year's Eve, online food delivery companies Zomato and Swiggy hastily made a major announcement. Yes, both companies have now offered increased pay to gig workers.
If reports are to be believed, online food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy will now offer increased incentives to their delivery partners. This is a standard practice during the festive season, to minimize disruptions to order delivery services on New Year's Eve amid calls for a strike by gig workers' unions.
Companies are worried about this.
It is worth noting that the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) have claimed that millions of workers will join a nationwide strike demanding better pay and working conditions.
According to industry sources, this strike could impact the operations of food delivery and quick commerce firms like Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Instamart, and Zepto on New Year's Eve. This is a major concern for companies because demand is at its highest level on this occasion.
Zomato has offered this offer
Zomato has offered delivery partners a payment of ₹120 to ₹150 per order during peak hours between 6 pm and 12 am on New Year's Eve.
Sources familiar with the sudden move said the platform has also promised daily earnings of up to ₹3,000, depending on the number of orders and worker availability.
Zomato has also temporarily waived penalties for order rejection and cancellation. A spokesperson for Zomato's parent company, Eternal, said that operating protocol followed during high-demand festivals and the end of the year.
Swiggy Increases Incentives
Like Zomato, Swiggy has also increased incentives for the end of the year, offering delivery workers up to ₹10,000 between December 31st and January 1st, according to reports citing people familiar with the development.
He said that on New Year's Eve, the platform is adding peak-hour earnings of up to Rs 2,000 for a six-hour period between 6 pm and 12 midnight to ensure that there are enough riders during one of the busiest ordering times of the year.
