Gig workers’ strike hits Delhi NCR on New Year’s eve amid fog chaos; delivery apps face disruption

As thick fog paralysed Delhi NCR on New Year’s Eve—forcing the cancellation of 148 flights and disrupting train services—another crisis unfolded on the ground, with gig and delivery workers launching a strike that threatens to disrupt quick commerce and food delivery services across the region.

Delivery workers affiliated with multiple unions stayed off the roads, protesting what they describe as exploitative pay structures, opaque incentives, arbitrary blocking of worker IDs and the growing pressure of 10-minute delivery models that, they say, put lives at risk.

The strike is expected to affect services by platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon and Uber across Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad.

The strike has been called by the Telangana-based Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Karnataka-based Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT), with support from the Delhi-based Gig Workers Association (GiGWA). It follows a similar protest on December 25 that partially impacted deliveries during peak hours in parts of NCR.

‘1.5 lakh workers expected’

TGPWU president Shaik Salauddin said around 50,000 workers participated in the Christmas Day strike, adding that nearly 1.5 lakh workers were expected to join the New Year’s Eve protest. According to government estimates, India had over 1 crore gig workers in 2024–25.

Spokespersons for Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Amazon and Uber did not respond to requests for comment.

Delivery partners told reporters that the race against the clock for ultra-fast deliveries forces risky behaviour. “If we are late by even one second, our entire day’s incentive is taken away. We skip red lights and ride even when visibility is low,” said a delivery worker at a Blinkit warehouse in East of Kailash.

A Swiggy delivery partner in Gurgaon’s Sector 52 was more blunt: “Khoon choos rahi hain company ab toh (The company is sucking our blood now).”

Longer hours, shrinking incentives

Workers said minimum working hours have quietly increased in recent months. “Earlier it was 10 hours. Now it’s 13 hours minimum. If we stop before 11.30 pm, our daily incentive is cut,” said Akaash, a delivery partner.

Unions argue that the task-based payment model ignores waiting time, traffic, weather conditions and fluctuating demand. “Platforms change pay structures whenever they want. Workers don’t know what their earnings will be,” said GiGWA organising secretary Nitesh Kumar Das.

Pay, workers said, has steadily declined. “Earlier we got ₹20–25 per order within a 2-km radius. Now deliveries go up to 5 km. On weekends, ₹450 is offered for 34 deliveries—earlier it was for 25,” said a delivery agent outside Ardee Mall in Gurgaon.

On average, workers said they earn ₹700–800 a day after working 14–15 hours. After fuel, food and rent, they are left with barely ₹300–400. “That is not enough to run a family,” said a Blinkit delivery partner.

Restaurants brace for losses

Restaurant owners said New Year’s Eve is among the busiest days of the year. Akshit Behl, Growth and Investment Head at Khadak Singh Da Dhaba, said earnings on December 31 can be three to four times higher than on other holidays. “We’ve warned customers that apps may be affected and are handling bulk orders ourselves. But bulk orders can’t make up for delivery losses,” he said.

The Vice-President of the National Restaurants Association of India, Pranav Rungta, said the body is in touch with Swiggy and Zomato. “On December 25, businesses—especially in Gurgaon—were impacted. Riders know these dates hurt the most,” he said, adding that food wastage is a major concern.

Fear of retaliation

Not all workers could afford to strike. “Strikes don’t make much difference. I can’t risk losing a day’s pay or getting my ID terminated,” said a Swiggy partner who stayed back during the December 25 protest.

Some workers alleged intimidation during the earlier strike. “People encouraging others were picked up by bouncers. WhatsApp groups were deleted,” a rider said.

Zomato, in an internal message to riders, said no partner would be stopped from making deliveries and that arrangements had been made with local authorities. Workers, however, insist the core issues remain unresolved.

“Workers have died because of the pressure of 10-minute deliveries,” said Salauddin. “Who will take responsibility for those deaths?”