Gig workers strike across India on New Year’s Eve
Gig workers across India, including delivery partners for Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon, and Flipkart, launched a nationwide strike on December 31, 2025, to protest low pay, unsafe conditions, and lack of social security. The action, timed for New Year’s Eve—a peak demand day—follows similar disruptions on Christmas Day and aims to pressure platforms and the government. Unions expect 100,000 to 150,000 participants, potentially causing delays in food, grocery, and cab services nationwide.
Workers demand an end to the “10-minute delivery” model, which forces risky speeding, along with fair wages of at least ₹5-6 per km, an eight-hour workday, health insurance, accident coverage, and pensions. They also seek safer conditions like no late-night deliveries during fog and recognition of accidents as workplace liabilities rather than personal costs. Despite November 2025 labor reforms mandating platform contributions to a Social Security Fund, unions say these fall short on income security.
The strike is led by the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), Gig and Platform Services Workers Union (GIPSWU), and Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU). These groups submitted memorandums to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, highlighting “systemic exclusion” in the gig economy. Support spans Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi-NCR, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.
Services in Delhi-NCR, Gurugram, and other cities face order cancellations and delays during lunch, dinner, and peak hours, echoing Christmas disruptions. Platforms like Zomato and Swiggy responded by hiking incentives, but workers allege retaliation such as app ID blocks. Celebrations may shift to self-preparation amid the high-demand night.
