New Year’s Eve celebrations in Delhi-NCR may face disruptions as thousands of gig workers associated with food delivery and ride-hailing platforms are expected to participate in a nationwide strike on Wednesday.
The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers, the Gig and Platform Service Workers’ Union, and various independent worker organizations have declared the strike. The action comes in the wake of a similar walkout during the Christmas period that led to mass delays and cancellations in the app-based services.
Usually, December 31 is a day around which demand for transport and food delivery services peaks as much as it can be almost four times more than usual. However, the people living in the area are warned of potential cancellations of their orders, longer waiting times, and less rides and deliveries available.
Workers Raise Concerns Over Safety and Earnings
Gig workers say that despite companies projecting themselves as “worker-centric”, the realities on the ground are starkly different. According to worker unions, platform companies often distance themselves from responsibility by classifying workers as “independent partners”.
Workers allege that accidents, medical emergencies, and work-related risks are treated as personal issues, leaving them without insurance cover or financial assistance. They also criticised algorithm-driven delivery targets, particularly ultra-fast delivery timelines, calling them unsafe and exploitative.
“The 10-minute delivery model is unrealistic. Workers end up losing more money than they earn due to pressure, penalties, and risks,” said one delivery worker.
Personal Accounts Highlight Struggles
Nadeem, the 30-year-old delivery worker living in Chandni Chowk, said that he had nobody to support him after going through a serious accident nearly one year ago. He mentioned that he was in a coma for over 90 days and had to spend more than ₹100,000 on his medical treatment, which he had received no support from the company that employed him.
Aman, another delivery worker from Jafrabad, disclosed his earnings details as the evidence of the volatility in income. By 4 pm on Monday, after seven hours of work and 11 deliveries, he had earned only ₹263 in total.
“The algorithm keeps changing. For the same number of orders and longer working hours, earnings fluctuate widely,” he said.
Ride-Hailing Workers Flag High Platform Charges
Among the issues that the ride-hailing drivers who are on strike have voiced, platform fees and the structure of incentives were the main ones. A ride-hailing app driver named Prabhat Kumar Verma said that in order for drivers not to be charged the minimum company-imposed platform fee of 13% per ride, they have to buy the company incentives.
“These incentives function like prepaid packs. Even after paying for them, earnings remain low once fuel and vehicle maintenance costs are factored in,” he said.
Services Likely to Remain Unpredictable
While platform companies have not officially confirmed service shutdowns, worker unions maintain that participation will be significant enough to affect operations. Throughout New Year’s Eve, it is recommended that consumers make prior arrangements and be ready for delays.
The workers’ action is a way to highlight the old claims of just salary, health insurance, reasonable algorithms, and safer working conditions for the big Indian gig economy labor force.
