Delivery workers across India have announced a two-day nationwide strike on December 25 and December 31, 2025, a move that could disrupt food delivery, quick commerce and e-commerce services during the busiest shopping period of the year. The coordinated walkout targets major platforms including Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon and Flipkart.
The strike has been called by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), with participation expected from delivery partners across metros and large tier-2 cities.
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Why gig workers are striking
Worker unions say delivery partners — who form the backbone of last-mile logistics — are under growing pressure due to falling payouts, unpredictable working hours and rising safety risks. According to union statements, ultra-fast delivery models, including 10-minute delivery promises, are pushing riders to rush on crowded roads, increasing accident risks.
Key issues flagged by workers include:
- Declining per-order earnings despite higher fuel and maintenance costs
- Long and uncertain working hours driven by algorithm-based allocations
- Arbitrary account suspensions without prior notice or appeal
- Lack of basic safety gear and inadequate accident insurance
- No guaranteed rest breaks or assured work allocation
Unions have also raised concerns about what they describe as unchecked algorithmic control, arguing that platforms increasingly shift risk to workers while tightening delivery timelines and frequently changing incentive structures.
Core demands from platforms
Among the main demands are transparent pay structures linked to actual working hours and expenses, withdrawal of unsafe ultra-fast delivery targets, and an end to sudden ID blocking without due process. Workers are also seeking stronger in-app grievance redressal systems to address payment failures, routing issues and incentive disputes.
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Beyond day-to-day operations, unions want long-term job security measures such as health insurance, accident coverage and pension benefits — protections that traditional employees receive but gig workers often lack.
Call for government intervention
The unions have urged both the Centre and state governments to step in, regulate platform companies and ensure enforcement of labour protections. They are also calling for formal recognition of gig workers’ right to organise and bargain collectively.
“Delivery workers are being pushed to breaking point by unsafe work models, falling incomes and the total absence of social protection,” said Shaik Salauddin, founder president of TGPWU and national general secretary of IFAT. “This strike is a collective call for dignity, safety and accountability.”
What the government has done so far
The strike comes just weeks after the revised Code on Social Security came into force on November 21, 2025, marking the first formal recognition of gig and platform workers in India’s labour framework.
Under the new rules, digital platforms and aggregators are required to contribute 1–2% of their annual turnover — capped at 5% of payouts to gig workers — to a dedicated Social Security Fund. According to the Press Information Bureau, the fund is meant to support welfare schemes such as health cover, accident insurance and maternity benefits.
The framework also introduces Aadhaar-linked universal account numbers to ensure portability of benefits and expands the legal definition of gig and platform work. While several companies have welcomed the clarity the law brings, unions say the reforms are only a starting point and do not fully address minimum earnings, workplace safety or algorithm-driven management practices.
What to expect next
With the strike scheduled during peak holiday demand, consumers may see delayed deliveries or limited service availability in some cities on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Whether the walkout leads to negotiations or policy changes will depend on how platforms and governments respond in the coming days.
