A nationwide strike by delivery partners on December 31 caused noticeable disruption across major Indian cities, impacting food delivery and quick-commerce platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon Flex, and Flipkart Quick. The protest, organised by various gig worker unions, coincided with New Year’s Eve one of the busiest days for online orders.
Delivery workers across multiple states either logged off from apps or refused to accept orders, leading to longer wait times, limited service availability, and in some cases, complete suspension of deliveries during peak hours.
Why Did Delivery Workers Go on Strike?
According to worker unions and platform representatives, the strike was driven by long-standing concerns over unfair working conditions and growing pressure from delivery platforms. Key issues highlighted by workers include:
- Low per-order earnings, even as fuel prices and daily living costs continue to rise
- High commission deductions by platforms, reducing actual take-home pay
- No minimum wage guarantee, despite long working hours
- Lack of insurance, health coverage, and social security benefits
- Increasing pressure to meet unrealistic delivery timelines, including 10-minute and ultra-fast delivery targets
Delivery partners alleged that the push for ultra-fast deliveries has increased stress and safety risks on the road, forcing riders to rush through traffic to meet deadlines. Workers also claimed that incentive structures were gradually reduced without clear communication, directly impacting their daily earnings.
Many delivery partners said the growing focus on speed over safety has made the job more dangerous, while compensation has failed to keep pace with the added pressure.
Impact on Customers and Platforms
Major urban centres including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune witnessed partial service outages. Many users reported delayed deliveries or unavailable slots during peak evening hours on December 31.
While companies attempted to manage operations by offering surge incentives and bonuses to active riders, service disruptions were still visible in several regions.
Industry sources said food delivery platforms were particularly affected due to high New Year demand, while grocery and quick-commerce platforms saw moderate disruption.
Public Reaction and Online Response
Social media platforms were flooded with mixed reactions.
Some users expressed frustration over delayed orders, while others showed support for delivery workers demanding fair pay and job security.
Hashtags related to the strike and gig worker rights trended intermittently, reflecting growing public attention toward working conditions in India’s app-based economy.
What Happens After the Strike?
Although services began stabilizing after December 31, unions have indicated that further protests could follow if discussions with platform companies do not lead to meaningful changes.
Industry experts say the strike could push companies to re-evaluate incentive models and working conditions, especially as gig workers play a critical role during high-demand periods.
For now, delivery services have resumed in most cities, but the episode has once again highlighted the fragile balance between platform growth and worker welfare in India’s gig economy.
The December 31 delivery strike marked one of the most visible protests by gig workers in recent months. While it caused temporary disruption, it also reopened a broader conversation about fair pay, job security, and sustainable working conditions in India’s rapidly expanding delivery ecosystem.
