Gig Workers Strike Petrol Price: After the increase in the prices of petrol and diesel in the country, its effect is now visible on app-based delivery and cab services also. Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) has announced a protest against rising fuel prices. The union has said that on Friday, from 12 noon to 5 pm, the gig workers will protest by keeping the app closed.

The union says that due to the cost of petrol and diesel, delivery boys and drivers are being affected the most. Lakhs of workers working for companies like Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, Ola, Uber and Rapido are completely dependent on bikes and scooters for their income. In such a situation, due to increase in fuel prices, their daily savings are continuously decreasing.

Demand for rate of Rs 20 per kilometer

The union has demanded from the companies that the service rate for gig workers should be fixed at at least Rs 20 per kilometer. The union says that when the prices of petrol and diesel increase, the expenses immediately increase, but the companies do not increase the delivery charge or payment per kilometer.

GIPSWU President Seema Singh said that delivery workers who work long hours in the scorching heat are already under pressure. Now their problems have increased due to cost of fuel. He said that if the companies do not take a decision on increasing the payments, the agitation will be intensified in the future.

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Impact on more than 1 crore workers

National Coordinator of the union Nirmal Gorana said that there are about 1 crore 20 lakh gig and platform workers in the country. These include people associated with food delivery, grocery delivery, logistics and cab services.

He said that the cost of petrol and diesel has a direct impact on the earnings of these workers, because they have to bear petrol, car service and other expenses from their own pockets.

Demand from government also

The union has demanded from the government that guidelines should be issued to increase payments to app-based companies, so that the entire burden of rising fuel prices does not fall on the workers.

The union says that this protest on Friday will be peaceful and its purpose is to convey the economic problems of gig workers to the government and companies.

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Gig Workers Delivery News: In Delhi NCR, the heat has started showing its influence in the beginning of April and the situation is becoming very difficult, especially in the afternoon. The scorching heat in Delhi in the month of April itself has made the situation such that even standing for a few minutes is becoming extremely difficult. But just think about those lakhs of laborers who keep toiling on the streets of Delhi without caring for their lives to run their homes in this scorching scorching heat.

But the way the heat is showing and according to the forecast given by the Meteorological Department, the coming days are going to be even more challenging because the temperature in Delhi NCR will reach 44 degrees in the coming days. Therefore, it can be said that this strong sunlight is posing a major threat to gig workers. Therefore, amidst this scorching heat, gig and platform workers have raised the demand for relief from the government.

Danger of temperature reaching 42 to 44 degrees

In fact, Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) has written a letter to the Delhi government saying that the temperature in the capital is continuously reaching 40 to 42 degrees Celsius. On top of that, due to the humidity, the “feels like” temperature is becoming even higher, due to which the condition of the workers working in the field is getting worse.

According to the union, delivery partners, cab drivers and other app-based workers have to work on the roads for long hours without adequate rest and safety. In such a situation, the risk of serious diseases like heat exhaustion, dehydration and heatstroke is increasing rapidly, which can sometimes prove fatal.

Demand to stop work from 12 noon to 3 pm

In view of all these risks, the gig workers have now made the most important demand from the government that during this scorching heat, their work should be temporarily stopped from 12 noon to 3 pm, so that they can get relief during the peak heat. The union says that continuing work during this period is a big risk to the health of the workers.

Apart from this, in the letter written by the union to the government, it has also been demanded that shady rest areas, drinking water and emergency medical facilities should be made available at different places in the city. Also, emphasis has been laid on implementing schemes like Rest Facility and Atal Canteen announced in the Delhi Budget as soon as possible, so that lakhs of gig workers can get relief on the ground.

Emphasis on workers’ safety and facilities

In this letter, the union has asked the government to fix the responsibility of the companies and along with this, app-based platforms should provide free cotton jackets or other clothes necessary for protection from heat to their workers. At the same time, demands have also been raised to make arrangements for safe and clean facilities, drinking water, sanitation and emergency help support for women workers.

Overall, the union clearly says that the service economy of the city depends on lakhs of gig workers, and they are the ones who are taking the maximum risks. In such a situation, it is necessary to take concrete steps in time, so that lakhs of workers can get relief from this scorching heat.

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As Budget 2026 approaches, the expectations of millions of workers associated with India’s rapidly expanding Gig Economy are also reaching new heights.

Delivery partners, cab drivers, freelancers and platform-based professionals have today become the strong backbone of the country’s digital economy. Online platforms have provided new employment opportunities, but they have also brought uncertainty.

Even though the work is flexible, the income is not stable and there is no guarantee of any kind.

Gig workers are most affected by weather and inflation. If work is stopped for a day due to heatwave, flood, heavy rain or extreme weather, then the earning for that day directly becomes zero.

Existing welfare and insurance systems mostly provide support after a loss has occurred, while gig workers need real-time support and income protection so that difficult circumstances do not disrupt their daily lives.

Young freelancers and platform professionals invest in their own skills, online courses and certifications for their career growth.

In such a situation, it is expected from Budget 2026 that the government will pay special attention to tax relief, cheap education loans, affordable upskilling programs and secure digital credit systems. If the Budget takes visionary and practical steps regarding the gig economy, gig workers will not just remain workers, but will also be able to create a secure, stable and dignified future.

Gig Workers Row: Following the strictness of the government and increasing concerns about the safety of delivery partners, quick commerce companies have started removing their branding related to ‘delivery in 10 minutes’. After Blinkit, now Zepto, Swiggy Instamart and Flipkart Minutes have also removed the promise of delivery of goods within a few minutes from their platforms.

The move follows concerns from the government and labor rights groups over the risks to suppliers’ safety, health and working conditions from rushing deliveries. Union Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, in a meeting held with stakeholders last week, had appealed to quick commerce companies to give priority to the safety of delivery partners.

Government strict on 10 minute delivery

Mandaviya had suggested that strict deadlines for delivery of goods in very short time, especially commitments like ‘delivery in 10 minutes’ should be removed. Following this instruction from the government, Blinkit removed the promise of delivery within 10 minutes from its platform on Tuesday. The very next day, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart and Flipkart Minutes also changed their branding.

However, grocery delivery in 10 minutes is still mentioned on Tata Group-owned BigBasket’s app. Quick commerce business in the country has grown rapidly in the last few years, but along with it, questions have also been raised regarding increasing pressure on delivery partners, working conditions and road safety. On New Year’s Eve, gig workers (temporary workers) held a nationwide strike in protest against ’10 minute delivery’, in which issues related to health, safety and income of employees were prominently raised.

Gig workers welcomed

The Gig Workers Association has welcomed the decision by instant delivery platforms to remove the promise of ‘delivery in 10 minutes’. The association says that this step is an important initiative towards acknowledging the dangerous and unbearable pressure placed on delivery workers. The organization also alleged that in many cases workers were not being paid commensurate with the extra effort.

At present, a total of seven instant delivery platforms are active in the country including Blinkit (Eternal), Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, Jiomart, BigBasket, Amazon Now and Flipkart Minutes.

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When India is moving forward with the aim of becoming a developed economy by 2047, there is a very important issue on which there has been little talk till now – retirement security. Today, pension assets in India are only around 14% of GDP, which is much lower than many comparable countries. Union Budget 2026 is a big opportunity for the government to take India towards a “pensioned society” by strengthening the National Pension System (NPS). In this video we will discuss what major changes are possible regarding NPS in Budget 2026. Why withdrawal of extra tax incentive for self-employed people is necessary, how mandatory NPS contribution can become a bigger social safety net for gig workers, and why it is necessary to rethink the ₹7.5 lakh cap on employer contribution. We will also learn how making NPS tie-up mandatory for private companies and facilitating easy transfer between EPF-NPS can change retirement planning. If you are salaried, self-employed or part of the gig economy, then this video is very important for your future financial security. NPS is not just a pension scheme but can become the basis of India’s long-term economic strength.

Zomato: Deepinder Goyal, founder and CEO of Zomato’s parent company Eternal, has said that the company’s food delivery unit (Zomato) fires about 5000 gig workers every month. He revealed this while talking in the podcast of YouTuber Raj Shamani.

Lakhs of gig workers leave their jobs on their own

He also said that apart from being fired from the job, about 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh gig workers leave the job on their own every month. Apart from this, the company hired around 1.5-2 lakh new people every month. Till the last quarter, food delivery was Eternal’s biggest business. Then it was overtaken by its quick commerce unit Blinkit.

However, Gurugram based Zomato is still the biggest profit earning engine for the company, Apart from Zomato and Blinkit, Eternal District also runs an outgoing business on labels and a business-to-business (B2B) grocery supply vertical Hyperpure,

Reason for mass layoffs

Regarding people leaving the job of delivery boy on a large scale, Deepinder said, many people consider this role to be temporary. Some people choose this work in case of sudden need of money and then leave the job after earning money as per need.

Talking about large-scale retrenchment of people from jobs, Deepinder said that many times there are fraud related incidents behind this, such as delivery partners showing the food as delivered even when it was not delivered or cases where customers were promised change for cash-on-delivery orders, but they never received it.

Facilities for gig workers

He also wrote on the facilities provided to gig workers, the demand for PF or guaranteed salary for gig workers like full-time employees is not right according to the model for which it has been created. This is because there is no fixed shift for delivery partners. They are not assigned any fixed location for work. They themselves decide when to log-in and log-out. Or they have to deliver to some place in the city. They choose their own location. They have the freedom to add or remove locations for work as per their choice.

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Big news came amidst the strike of gig workers, social security benefits will be available only after fulfilling these conditions.

The new Labor Codes to be implemented in India from April 1, 2026 will bring a big change for crores of workers.

The biggest benefit will be given to gig and platform workers, who are being included in the scope of social security for the first time.

Under the rules, if a worker works for 90 days with any one aggregator or 120 days in the previous financial year on more than one platform, he will be eligible. The day on which earnings are earned will be considered a full working day.

The government has sought suggestions on draft rules. According to Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the target is to provide social security to 100 crore workers by March 2026.

Appointment letter, free health checkup, equal pay and women’s right to work in all shifts will also be ensured.

Social Benefits For Gig Workers: Gig workers were on strike on New Year’s Eve over their working conditions and better pay. Meanwhile, the Central Government has brought such a formula for such gig sellers, only after completing which they will be able to avail social security benefits. According to the proposed draft issued by the Union Labor Ministry to seek public opinion, for this, during the current financial year, gig and platform workers will have to work with a single aggregator for at least 90 days or with multiple aggregators for 120 days. This notification from the government came on December 30, a day before the announcement of a strike by gig workers on New Year’s Eve.

Digital cards will be issued

The government has made a provision to make registration mandatory for workers in the unorganized sector on the portal designated by the Central Government. According to the rules, every eligible and registered unorganized worker will be issued a digital identity card, which will contain his photograph and other details prescribed by the Central Government. It is noteworthy that the Labor Ministry has already started the registration process on the e-Shram portal, which is the national database of unorganized workers.

Through this portal, registered workers will be able to get the benefits of various social security schemes along with identification. The rules also state that eligible unorganized workers will have to update their address, profession, mobile number, skills and other necessary information from time to time. If a worker does not update these details regularly, he may be disqualified for the benefits of social security schemes.

What are the rules in the draft?

According to the draft rules, if a gig worker or platform worker does any work for an aggregator on any calendar day, no matter how low the income, and earns income from it, that day will be considered as one day of engagement (engagement day) with that aggregator. If a gig or platform worker works for more than one aggregator, his total engagement days will be calculated by adding up the work done with all the aggregators.

The special thing is that if a worker is associated with three different aggregators in the same day, then that day will be counted as three days of participation. The rules also clarify that eligible gig or platform workers will include all those employed by an aggregator directly or through its associate company, holding company, subsidiary, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) or any third party.

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Before New Year’s Eve, today (31st December), gig workers (all delivery workers including Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Flipkart) have announced a strike across the country. In such a situation, there may be problems in ordering food for the New Year party and in online delivery. Gig workers are on strike demanding fair wages, safety and many other demands.

National General Secretary of Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) Sheikh Salauddin said that today gig workers across the country will keep all app-based platforms off and hold peaceful demonstrations at major places. Let us tell you that people doing online delivery are called gig workers.

He told that on December 25, online platform companies were given a strike warning, but no talks were held with the gig workers, nor were any security and working hours fixed. That is why strike has become necessary again today on 31st December. He said that online platform companies are silent on all these demands. The government should immediately intervene regarding the demands of gig workers.

‘It became difficult to get incentives’
Sheikh Salauddin said that this is not just a protest but a fight for the survival and basic rights of gig workers. The salary of gig workers has been reduced based on the orders received. Apart from this, compensation based on distance and time has also been reduced. He said that by doing this it has become difficult for the workers to get incentives and it has been changed arbitrarily. The result is that gig workers are earning less than before and having to work more to fulfill orders.

‘Gig workers are being exploited’
He also said that gig workers are being exploited through online algorithms. 10 minute delivery means more delivery pressure. In such a situation, there is a risk of accidents and mental stress due to driving at high speed. Gig workers are not machines but giving incentives for working long hours, all these things force them to work for 10-10 hours.

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Gig Workers on Strike: Gig workers associated with major online shopping and delivery platforms like Amazon, Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Flipkart and Zapto have announced to go on a nationwide strike from December 31, 2025. Along with this, the gig workers who were on strike since December 25 are also continuing their agitation with these demands. Gig workers say that the purpose of this strike is to put pressure on the companies, because their working conditions are getting worse with time, while the profits of the companies are continuously increasing.

gig workers strike

This strike is being organized under the banner of Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union and Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers. Unions claim that this will include not only major metro cities but also a large number of gig workers from Tier-II cities, which could have a widespread impact on delivery services. According to union leaders, on one hand the demand for fast and timely delivery is continuously increasing, on the other hand workers are neither being paid commensurately nor are they being provided safe and respectable working conditions.

The biggest concern of gig workers is about the app-based control system. He says that payments, delivery targets and incentives are decided entirely through algorithms, in which transparency is almost negligible. According to the workers, the risks involved during delivery rest entirely on them, while the deadlines are kept very strict. Additionally, frequent changes in the incentive structure make their income unstable and uncertain, which seriously impacts economic security.

Protest against working conditions and pay

The union statement said that delivery workers act as the backbone of the platforms, especially during weekends, peak hours and festivals, but despite this they are facing problems like long working hours, insecure delivery deadlines and continuously decreasing earnings. Gig workers say that their protest will continue until their demands related to working conditions, remuneration and social security are not seriously considered.

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