New Year’s Eve celebrations across India are likely to face significant disruptions as gig workers associated with major food delivery and quick commerce platforms go on a nationwide strike on December 31. The strike, called by multiple gig worker unions, comes on one of the busiest delivery days of the year and is expected to impact food orders, grocery deliveries and last-minute shopping in major cities and several tier-2 markets.
Workers are protesting issues related to pay transparency, blocking of worker IDs, increasing minimum working hours and concerns over the safety risks posed by 10-minute delivery models. Restaurants, customers and delivery platforms are bracing for delays, cancellations and operational challenges.
Key Takeaways: Nationwide Gig Worker Strike on New Year’s Eve
- Gig workers from platforms including Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon and Flipkart are participating
- Strike called over pay transparency, worker ID blocking and 10-minute delivery models
- Unions estimate participation of up to 1.5 lakh workers nationwide
- Previous strike on December 25 affected parts of NCR
- Restaurants fear business losses and food wastage
- Many workers say long hours and falling incentives are unsustainable
Nationwide Strike Planned on One of the Busiest Delivery Days
New Year’s Eve deliveries across India are expected to face major disruptions as gig workers from multiple app-based platforms go on strike on Wednesday, December 31. The strike is likely to affect food delivery, grocery orders and quick commerce services in major metropolitan areas as well as several tier-2 markets.
Delivery workers’ unions have called for the strike citing long-standing grievances related to non-transparent pay structures, blocking or termination of worker IDs without explanation, increasing minimum working hours and the growing push for 10-minute delivery models.
New Year’s Eve is traditionally among the busiest days for app-based delivery services, with a sharp surge in food and grocery orders, making the impact of the strike potentially widespread.
Unions Behind the Protest and Expected Participation
The strike has been jointly called by the Telangana-based Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Karnataka-based Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT). The Delhi-based Gig Workers Association (GiGWA) has also extended its support.
According to TGPWU president Shaik Salauddin, around 50,000 workers participated in a similar strike on Christmas Day. He added that nearly 1.5 lakh workers are expected to join the New Year’s Eve strike.
Government estimates cited in the report indicate that the number of gig workers in India crossed 1 crore during 2024–25.
Background: Impact of the December 25 Strike
The planned New Year’s Eve protest follows another strike held on December 25. While participation was relatively limited, it disrupted deliveries during the afternoon and early evening in parts of Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad.
Workers said the December 25 action served as a test run, with New Year’s Eve seen as a more impactful date due to higher order volumes. Union leaders indicated that delivery workers are increasingly coordinating protests to coincide with peak-demand days.
Some workers also alleged intimidation during the earlier strike, claiming that individuals who encouraged participation were picked up by bouncers and that WhatsApp and Instagram groups used for coordination were deleted.
Key Demands: Pay, Hours and 10-Minute Delivery Risks
Workers participating in the strike highlighted multiple grievances related to their working conditions:
- Payment is based on completed tasks rather than hours worked
- Waiting time, traffic delays, bad weather and low demand are not accounted for
- Incentives are withdrawn even for minor delays
- Platforms frequently change pay structures without prior notice
A delivery partner at a Blinkit warehouse in East of Kailash told The Indian Express that even being late by a second could lead to the loss of the entire day’s incentive, forcing riders to skip red lights and drive in low-visibility conditions.
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Several workers said minimum daily working hours have increased from 10 to 13 hours, with penalties imposed if they log out before 11:30 p.m.
Concerns Over Falling Earnings and Rising Costs
Workers reported that despite longer working hours, take-home earnings have declined. A delivery partner said they earn around Rs 700–800 per day after working 14–15 hours, from which fuel, food and rent expenses must be deducted, leaving Rs 300–400.
Another delivery agent outside Ardee Mall in Gurgaon said per-order payments have dropped, while delivery distances have increased from a 2-km radius to up to 5 km. Weekend incentives have also become harder to achieve, requiring more deliveries for the same payout.
Nitesh Kumar Das, Organising Secretary of GiGWA, said platforms alter pay structures at will, leaving workers uncertain about their earnings.
Restaurant Industry Braces for Impact
Restaurants are preparing for possible delays, cancellations and food wastage. Pranav Rungta, Vice-President of the National Restaurants Association of India, said the association is in touch with Swiggy and Zomato and awaiting formal communication regarding the strike.
He noted that businesses across NCR, especially Gurgaon, were impacted during the December 25 strike and that riders are aware these dates cause maximum disruption.
Akshit Behl, Growth and Investment Head at Khadak Singh Da Dhaba, said earnings on New Year’s Eve are typically three to four times higher than on other holidays, making the potential losses significant.
Company Responses and Platform Preparations
Spokespersons for Zepto, Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon and Uber did not respond to requests for comment. However, an internal communication sent to Zomato riders stated that no delivery partner would be stopped from making deliveries and that arrangements had been made with local authorities.
Workers noted that even during strikes, customers sometimes receive orders from nearby stores where delivery partners are still working.
Why Some Workers Cannot Afford to Strike
Despite widespread anger, several workers said they could not afford to participate due to the risk of income loss or ID termination. One Swiggy delivery partner said strikes make little difference and that missing a day’s work could have serious financial consequences.
Workers in Gurgaon estimated that around 30% of delivery partners would join the strike, with others continuing to work out of necessity.
A High-Stakes Test for Platforms and Workers
The nationwide gig worker strike on New Year’s Eve highlights growing tensions between app-based platforms and the workers who keep them running during peak demand. As unions push for transparency, safer working conditions and predictable earnings, platforms and restaurants face operational uncertainty on one of the most commercially important days of the year. With participation expected to be significantly higher than the December 25 protest, the strike underscores the fragile balance between convenience-driven business models and the realities of gig work. How companies respond may shape future labour relations in India’s expanding app-based economy.
Human Dignity Beyond Profit Motives
The ongoing unrest among gig workers reflects a deeper concern about how modern systems often prioritise profit over people. In the pursuit of speed, convenience and margins, society risks becoming indifferent to accountability, ethical responsibility and the self-respect of those working at the lowest levels of the economic chain. When individuals grow detached from moral consequences, disregard for human dignity becomes easier.
This erosion, many believe, stems from a lack of true spiritual awareness. The teachings shared in the Satsangs of Tatvdarshi Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj emphasise Knowledge, accountability and respect for every human being. His guidance encourages reflection on justice, restraint and compassion—values that help restore balance between material progress and moral responsibility.
FAQs on Nationwide Gig Worker Strike on New Year’s Eve
1. Why are gig workers striking on New Year’s Eve?
They are protesting pay transparency issues, blocked worker IDs, long working hours and safety concerns linked to 10-minute delivery models.
2. Which platforms are affected by the strike?
Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon, Flipkart and Uber are among the platforms mentioned.
3. When is the strike taking place?
The nationwide strike is planned for December 31, New Year’s Eve.
4. How many workers are expected to participate?
Unions estimate around 1.5 lakh workers may join the strike.
5. Will deliveries stop completely during the strike?
No. Some workers will continue deliveries, and platforms say no partner will be stopped from working.
