As the countdown to New Year 2026 begins, millions of people planning online food orders and shopping may face disruptions. Delivery workers from major platforms including Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, and Flipkart have announced a nationwide strike ahead of New Year’s Eve.
The protest is being led by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union along with the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers. The strike is expected to impact major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata, Hyderabad, along with tier-2 cities like Jaipur, Lucknow, Indore, Ahmedabad and Patna.
More than one lakh delivery workers are expected to stay offline or work limited hours, affecting food, grocery, and e-commerce deliveries.
Why Are Delivery Workers on Strike?
The strike follows a similar protest held during Christmas. Workers say their working conditions have not improved despite rising demand. They claim long working hours, unsafe conditions, and lack of social security continue to affect their lives.
A major concern is the 10-minute delivery model, which workers say increases road accidents and pressure. They also highlight the absence of health insurance, accident coverage, and pension benefits.
Key Demands of Gig Workers
The unions have listed nine major demands, including:
- Fair and transparent wage structure
- Immediate ban on 10-minute delivery models
- No arbitrary ID blocking or penalties
- Proper safety gear and protection
- Equal work distribution without algorithm bias
- Respectful treatment from platforms and customers
- Fixed working hours and mandatory breaks
- Improved app support for payments and routing
- Health insurance, accident cover, and pension benefits
Who Are Gig Workers?
Gig workers are app-based workers who earn per task instead of fixed salaries. They play a crucial role in India’s digital economy but often work without job security, insurance, or long-term benefits.
Impact on New Year Celebrations
With the strike coinciding with New Year celebrations, customers may face delays or cancellations in food delivery and online shopping. While companies have not issued official statements yet, service disruption is expected across several cities.
