Gig Workers Union Calls For Nationwide Strike On December 25, 31

Gig workers of ecommerce and foodtech platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Amazon, and Flipkart have called for a nationwide strike on Christmas and December 31 – the busiest days for many of these platforms.

The strike has been called by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) to protest against unsafe work conditions, low pay, and lack of social security. The TGPWU posted a video on its social media handles, urging gig workers across the country to participate in the strike. 

“The nationwide strike has been called to protest the worsening working conditions in the gig and platform economy and the continued denial of fair wages, safety, dignity, and social security to delivery workers,” the union said in a statement.

Its demands include fair pay through transparent wage structure, immediate withdrawal of unsafe “10-minute delivery”, end to arbitrary ID blocking and penalties without due process, and mandatory rest breaks. 

“Delivery workers are being pushed to breaking point by unsafe work models, falling incomes, and total absence of social protection. This strike is a collective call for justice, dignity, and accountability. The government can no longer remain a silent spectator while platform companies profit at the cost of workers’ lives,” TGPWU founder and president Shaik Salauddin said. 

Notably, gig workers have protested and called for strikes multiple times over the past few years, seeking higher wages, decrease in commissions charged by the tech platforms, and social security benefits. 

Earlier this year, workers of ride-hailing platforms Uber, Rapido, and Ola also protested multiple times for better working conditions. 

The issue of the working conditions of gig workers was also raised in the Parliament during the Winter Session earlier this month, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha calling for a ban on quick commerce deliveries.

The MP said that the gig workers don’t get protections like permanent employment, safety gear, hazard allowance, and health or accident insurance despite working in challenging conditions.

While various states like Rajasthan and Karnataka have come out with laws to provide social security to the gig workers, the Centre is on a drive to get the workers registered on the e-Shram portal so that they can benefit from the schemes for social security.

Last month, the Centre also notified the four labour codes which aim to provide a safety net to the gig workers. The new laws are expected to impose an additional cost of about INR 1,500 Cr on platforms like  Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Rapido, Zepto, among others.