To encourage delivery professionals, platforms like Swiggy and Zomato rolled out heightened incentives across the city
BENGALURU
The nationwide strike called by gig worker unions failed to make a significant impact in Bengaluru on New Year’s Eve, with food and grocery deliveries largely continuing uninterrupted across the city. Most delivery partners stayed logged in, drawn by lucrative, time-bound incentives announced by major aggregator platforms such as Swiggy and Zomato.
The strike was called by worker unions including the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT) and the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU), protesting what they described as the “unethical 10-minute delivery model”, absence of job security, and lack of social protection for gig workers. However, for a majority of delivery personnel in Bengaluru, the day turned out to be business as usual. Only minor disruptions were reported in pockets of North and East Bengaluru.
Several delivery agents said they were unaware of the strike altogether. “I had no idea that such a strike was taking place. Even otherwise, I wouldn’t skip work because the platforms have announced special incentives for New Year’s Eve,” said Iqbal, a 25-year-old Swiggy delivery partner.
For others, economic compulsions outweighed collective action. “Our working conditions are bad, but when I don’t have any other job option, I can’t afford to lose this one. Today I had a chance to earn more, so I worked. My family needs the money,” said Pappu Kumar, who has been working with Blinkit for the past eight months.
To keep delivery services running smoothly, platforms rolled out aggressive incentive schemes across Bengaluru. Swiggy announced a promotional ‘Double Earnings’ offer, promising earnings of up to ₹2,175 for completing 19 orders within six hours between 6 pm and 12 am. As part of the scheme, delivery partners were allowed to reject only one order during the incentive window.
Zomato, too, introduced a special payout, offering ₹90 per order between 6 pm and 10 pm, provided delivery agents logged in for a minimum of three-and-a-half hours between 6 pm and midnight. These incentives, workers said, played a decisive role in weakening participation in the strike.
Despite limited on-ground impact, the strike found visible support among sections of the public, with many citizens pledging not to place online food orders on New Year’s Eve in solidarity with gig workers’ demands.
“The strike shows that these platforms are capable of paying workers fairly — they just choose not to do it on a regular basis. If similar incentives are provided throughout the year, delivery agents can earn a dignified livelihood,” said Prashant Sawardekar, founder and national president of IFAT.
