You must be set for a December 31 bash. But think again before ordering snacks and groceries tonight. You could be in for heartbreak. Your delivery might arrive after midnight if you are lucky. Or not at all.
Gig and delivery workers across India are planning a nationwide strike today.
They are reportedly taking a stand against long hours, falling earnings, and unsafe delivery targets.
According to media reports, platforms including Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon, and Flipkart may see delays just as the country welcomes 2026.
Unions have said that these delivery partners are the backbone of India’s app-based commerce system, and they’ve had enough of being pushed to the limit without proper pay or protection.
The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), with support from regional groups in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi-NCR, West Bengal, and parts of Tamil Nadu, have called the strike. Workers face unsafe delivery targets, arbitrary ID blocking, falling incomes, and almost no social security.
A nationwide flash strike on Christmas had reportedly caused 50–60% disruption in services in several cities. The companies allegedly responded with threats, account deactivations, and algorithmic penalties rather than dialogue.
Meanwhile, IFAT warned that deliveries of food, groceries, and other essentials might be hit in major cities like Pune, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, along with several tier-2 markets, as workers log off apps or slow their pace.
In a letter to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, IFAT reportedly said it represents around 4,00,000 app-based transport and delivery workers nationwide.
The federation urged the government to regulate platform companies under labour laws, ban unsafe delivery models, end arbitrary ID blocking, implement fair wage systems, and provide social security benefits including health cover, accident insurance, and pensions.
It also called for the protection of workers’ rights to organise and collectively bargain, requesting immediate tripartite talks between the government, platforms, and unions.
The letter, according to a media outlet, was signed by Shaikh Salauddin, Co-founder and National General Secretary of IFAT, and Inayath Ali, Founder of the Karnataka App-Based Workers Union and National Vice-President of the federation.
Copies were also marked to senior officials in the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Also Read: Zomato’s Valentine’s Day Surprise: Food Delivery Giant Exposes Customer’s Ambitious Plans https://www.vibesofindia.com/zomatos-valentines-day-surprise-food-delivery-giant-exposes-customers-ambitious-plans/
