Blinkit and Zepto’s 10-minute delivery service faces uncertainty as gig workers nationwide plan a strike on December 31. Unions claim the ultra-fast delivery model pressures workers, risking safety and unfair penalties. The protest could disrupt New Year’s Eve deliveries across major cities.
Blinkit, Zepto 10-Min Delivery Under Threat of Ban
New Delhi: The 10-minute delivery service offered by app-based companies like Blinkit and Zepto has once again landed in controversy. Gig worker unions have declared a nationwide strike on December 31, calling the model unsafe. They argue that the pressure for fast deliveries compromises the safety and rights of delivery partners. This strike on New Year's Eve could significantly impact delivery services.
Gig worker unions allege that the 10-minute delivery model puts dangerous pressure on delivery agents. Road safety is often disregarded in the rush to meet delivery deadlines. The unions claim that regardless of whether the delay is caused by the restaurant or the customer, the delivery agent always bears the brunt of the consequences. Therefore, they are demanding a complete ban on this model.
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Several national unions, including the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) and the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union, have called for a shutdown of app services on December 31. A strike was also held on December 25, which affected deliveries in some areas of Gurugram and Delhi. According to union leaders, the impact of the New Year's Eve strike could be even greater in major cities like Bengaluru.
The unions are demanding that platform companies be brought under the purview of labor laws. They are also demanding a ban on the 10-minute delivery model, the elimination of arbitrary ID blocking and penalty systems. The unions are also advocating for better and transparent wages, social security, and the right to collective bargaining. A letter has also been written to the Labor Minister regarding this issue.
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Many delivery agents want to participate in the strike, but they fear being blacklisted. According to Prashant Savardekar, president of IFAT, many workers want to protest but are afraid of repercussions from the companies. He says that the burden of every mistake is placed on the delivery agents, regardless of whether the fault lies with them or not.
The strike on New Year's Eve will also affect restaurants and food outlets. Many hotels and smaller restaurants are planning to use their own staff for deliveries, while this will not be easy for larger brands.
