Representational image of delivery partners.
Credit: iStock Photo
Gig workers of e-commerce platforms like Zomato, Blinkit, Amazon, and Swiggy went on a strike on December 25 and 31 to highlight deteriorating working conditions.
Services remained largely unaffected on December 31, but their calls for better pay, improved labour conditions and social security protections remain unattended.
One of the the demand of the workers is to scrap the super-fast 10-minute deliveries.
As the videos of gig workers being assaulted are being widely circulated on social media, their safety has also become a topic of concern with the Netizens divided in their opinion.
While many stand with the gig workers' concern of 10-minute deliveries being dangerous for them, others argue that it should be applicable only for medical emergencies.
Saying that this masks inefficiency on various levels, users do not deny the loss of jobs that may follow the ban.
The strike comes during recent government labour discussions and reforms aimed at officially recognising platform and gig workers for the first time.
They also seek intervention of the government, urging both Central and States bodies to enforce labour protections, regulate platforms, launch social security frameworks and recognise the right of the workers to organise and collectively bargain.
Zomato offered delivery partners payouts of Rs 120 to Rs 150 per order during peak hours between 6 pm and 12 am on New Year's Eve, as per news agency reports.
The platform has also promised earnings of up to Rs 3,000 over the course of the day, subject to order volumes and worker availability, they furthered informed.
Swiggy also increased incentives around the year-end, offering delivery workers earnings of up to Rs 10,000 across December 31 and January 1