As India prepares to ring in 2026, a massive showdown is unfolding on the streets between food delivery giants and the “invisible wheels” of the economy, with lakhs of gig workers logging off to demand dignity, safety, and a ban on “death-trap” 10-minute delivery models.
The busiest ordering night of the year has turned into a high-stakes showdown as gig workers across India launched a nationwide strike Wednesday (December 31, 2025). Led by the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers and the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union, an estimated 1.7 lakh delivery personnel from platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, and Zepto have vowed to stay offline. In a desperate move to save New Year’s Eve festivities, platforms have rolled out record-breaking incentives, offering top riders up to ₹10,000 to stay on the road.
The strike is the result of long-standing tension over the “gamification” of labor and the push for ultra-fast delivery.
- The Scale of Disruption: Unions report that operations in major hubs like Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad could see a 50–60% disruption in services, similar to a flash strike on Christmas Day.
- The “Festive” Pay Hike:
- Zomato: Offering payouts of ₹120–₹150 per order during peak hours (6 PM to midnight) and daily earnings up to ₹3,000. They’ve also temporarily waived penalties for order cancellations.
- Swiggy: Advertising total earnings of up to ₹10,000 for workers who stay active across December 31 and January 1, including a lucky draw for electric scooters for top performers.
- The Quick-Commerce Push: Worried about a total log-out, Zepto and BigBasket have also hiked rider incentives, while platforms started urging customers as early as Sunday to “stock up” on essentials to avoid the midnight rush.
The Core Demands
The unions have submitted a memo to the Union Labour Ministry, arguing the current “aggregator model” is exploitative.
- Ban on Ultra-Fast Delivery: A primary demand is removing 10- and 20-minute delivery guarantees, which unions claim force riders into reckless driving and result in frequent accidents.
- Minimum Wage & Security: Workers are seeking a minimum rate of ₹20 per kilometer and a guaranteed monthly income of ₹40,000, along with social security benefits like health insurance and pensions.
- Human Grievance Redressal: An end to “arbitrary” AI-driven ID blocking, demanding that human support teams replace automated bots for worker disputes.
“The gig economy cannot be built on the broken bodies and silenced voices of workers. This strike is a collective call for justice and accountability,” Shaik Salauddin, Founder-President of TGPWU, stated.
A spokesperson for Eternal (Zomato and Blinkit’s parent company) described the increased payouts as a “standard annual operating protocol during festive periods” to meet surge demand, downplaying any connection between the incentives and the strike call.
The 2025 protests represent a turning point for India’s 7.7 million gig workers. Political support has grown, with figures like AAP’s Raghav Chadha recently calling for a ban on 10-minute apps, labeling the model as “oppressive.” While the Code on Social Security (2020) provides a framework for aggregator contributions, unions argue implementation remains a distant dream while daily earnings keep shrinking.
While platforms hope the “carrot” of high incentives will outweigh the “stick” of the strike, the outcome will depend on the resolve of riders after 6:00 PM tonight. If the log-out succeeds, thousands of New Year’s parties could face major delays, forcing a long-overdue national conversation on the true cost of “convenience.”
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