Gig workers warn small mistakes risk lives, strike tonight
As the new year begins, spare a thought for gig workers risking lives, racing against time to deliver last-minute orders.
As Indians prepare to ring in the New Year on December 31, stocking up on snacks, drinks, and party essentials at the last minute, a quiet but powerful protest is unfolding across the country. Delivery workers associated with platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit and others have announced a nationwide strike, warning that the cost of “instant convenience” is being paid with their safety — and sometimes, their lives.
For many customers, the strike may mean delayed orders or empty carts on New Year’s Eve. For workers, it is about drawing attention to what they describe as unsafe working conditions, punishing delivery timelines, and a system that prioritises speed over human lives. With India’s gig and platform workforce expected to grow to 2.35 crore by 2029–30, the issues raised by these workers reflect a deeper crisis at the heart of the country’s rapidly expanding gig economy.
So who are the people powering India’s 10-minute deliveries, and why are they risking their livelihoods to protest on one of the busiest nights of the year?
Kunal, 26, has been working with Blinkit for the past six months. Before this, he spent three years at a call centre, a job he eventually left because of low pay and constant insecurity. Gig work, he hoped, would offer flexibility and better earnings. Instead, he found a different kind of pressure.
“It’s not that there’s a future here either,” he said. “Even the money is not better. The only thing is that you can choose your hours. But the company only cares about profit, not about us.”
For Kunal, the job has also taken an emotional toll.
Inside cloud kitchens and warehouses, the pressure does not ease. Workers describe chaotic environments where speed is everything. Orders pile up, timers start ticking, and riders are expected to make up for delays that are often beyond their control — traffic jams, parking issues, security checks, or simply the distance between pickup and delivery points.
Kunal explained how delivery expectations have expanded far beyond what is reasonable. “Customers are mostly okay, not everyone is bad,” he said. “But they don’t really care about us. If someone orders from their room, they want delivery at their doorstep. They won’t step out. We even deliver inside hospitals now. Think about it — we park our bikes, find the ward, and deliver inside. That alone takes so much time. How can we keep doing door-to-door deliveries in 10 minutes?”
Another major concern raised by workers is the practice of ID blocking — a digital punishment that can instantly cut off a worker’s livelihood. Himanshu, another delivery worker, spoke about organising a strike when rider supply increased sharply but earnings dropped.
“We were working 14 hours and earning only Rs 600–700,” he said. “After the strike, our IDs were blocked. The reason given was ‘strike enabler’.”
Without access to their app accounts, workers cannot log in, accept orders, or earn. There is often no clear appeals process, leaving them financially stranded overnight.
Perhaps the most alarming issue is how delivery timelines are reshaping behaviour on the roads. “We tell our families that we ride safely,” Himanshu admitted. We have to. There’s no other way to deliver in 10 minutes.”
Overspeeding, he said, becomes second nature. If the clock crosses the promised delivery time, calls from customer care begin immediately. There’s always pressure. Always.”
As social media fills with calls to boycott delivery apps on New Year’s Eve, many users say the strike has forced them to confront an uncomfortable reality: the convenience they enjoy is built on invisible risk. The strike is not just about one night of protest, workers say, but about demanding dignity, safety, and a system that values human lives over countdown timers.
As fireworks light up the skies this New Year’s Eve, gig workers across India are asking a simple question — should a packet of chips or a bottle of soda really cost someone their life?