Gig Workers Strike News | As gig workers from Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon, and Flipkart prepare for a statewide strike on December 31, New Year’s Eve celebrations in India may be severely disrupted. The strike threatens to disrupt customer plans and negatively affect shops who depend on last-mile delivery to meet their year-end revenue objectives on the largest shopping day of the year. Here is the most recent report from Apurva Adhikari.
On December 31, gig and platform workers will go on strike. They urged the Center to act quickly to prevent “exploitation” of workers by platforms in the food delivery and taxi service industries in a letter to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
Unions representing gig and platform workers have declared that they will go on strike on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, in protest of the “systemic exclusion from core labour entitlements” of these workers. They urged the Center to act immediately to prevent “exploitation” of workers by platforms in the food delivery and taxi service industries in a letter to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
In the letter, the Gig and Platform Services Workers Union (GIPSWU) stated that a statewide walkout by delivery workers on December 25 highlighted the dire consequences for India’s development if worker concerns were not resolved. “Gig laborers are still systematically denied access to fundamental labor rights under Indian law and constitutional safeguards. Reports show widespread violence, discrimination, and harassment of employees. The letter continued, “This strike unites gig workers and allies to demand immediate government intervention.”
“Set minimum per-kilometer rates at ₹20 for employees of Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Flipkart, and BigBasket; guarantee women’s safety at work.” The charter stated that it will provide a minimum monthly salary of ₹40,000, remove arbitrary ID blocking and punitive rating systems, and provide women service workers with emergency leave and complete maternity protection.
Demands including stopping auto advance credit deductions and restricting all deductions at 20% were also included. The unions argued that employees should not be included in performance criteria and demanded compensation for cancellations made by customers. The unions called for the replacement of AI-based calls with round-the-clock human customer service.
“Legally recognise platform workers as ‘workers’ under labour laws, ceasing misclassification as ‘partners’,” the charter stated. According to Shaik Salauddin, founder president of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU), platform corporations use algorithmic punishment, threats, ID banning, and police harassment in response to delivery workers’ complaints.
“This is nothing but modern-day exploitation,” he declared. “The government needs to get in right away. Control platform corporations, prevent worker abuse, and guarantee social protection, safety, and fair salaries. “The broken bodies and silenced voices of workers cannot be the foundation of the gig economy,” he stated.
FAQ: Gig Workers Strike News on December 31
What is the gig workers’ strike about?
Gig and platform workers associated with companies like Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon, Flipkart, and BigBasket have announced a statewide strike on December 31, 2025, protesting against alleged exploitation and denial of basic labour rights.
When will the strike take place?
The strike is scheduled for Wednesday, December 31, 2025, coinciding with New Year’s Eve, one of the busiest days for food delivery, e-commerce, and taxi services.
Who has called for the strike?
The strike has been called by unions representing gig and platform workers, including the Gig and Platform Services Workers Union (GIPSWU) and the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU).
Why are gig workers going on strike?
Workers claim they are systematically excluded from core labour entitlements, face algorithmic punishment, ID blocking, harassment, and lack social security, minimum wages, and safety protections—especially for women workers.
What demands have the unions made?
Key demands include:
Minimum ₹20 per kilometre rate for delivery workers
Minimum monthly income of ₹40,000
Legal recognition of platform workers as “workers” under labour laws
End to arbitrary ID blocking and punitive rating systems
Compensation for customer cancellations
Restricting deductions to 20% and stopping auto-advance credit deductions
Replacing AI-based calls with 24/7 human customer support
What safety measures are being demanded for women workers?
The unions have demanded:
Guaranteed workplace safety for women
Emergency leave provisions
Complete maternity protection for women service workers
How could the strike impact New Year’s Eve celebrations?
The strike may cause major disruptions in food delivery, grocery delivery, ride-hailing, and e-commerce services, potentially affecting customer plans and businesses relying on last-mile delivery during the peak year-end shopping period.
Has the government responded to the strike call?
So far, unions have written to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, urging immediate intervention. No official response from the Centre has been announced yet.
What do worker unions say about platform companies?
Union leaders allege that platform companies use algorithm-driven penalties, threats, ID bans, and even police harassment to suppress worker grievances, calling it “modern-day exploitation.”
Will services like Zomato and Swiggy completely shut down?
While a complete shutdown is not confirmed, delivery delays, limited availability, or reduced service capacity are likely during the strike period.
Which states will be affected by the gig workers’ strike?
The unions have announced a statewide strike, and while the strongest participation is expected in states like Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, disruptions may be felt across multiple urban centres.
Will grocery delivery services like Blinkit and Zepto be affected?
Yes. Instant grocery platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto, BigBasket, and similar quick-commerce services may see delays or partial shutdowns, especially during peak evening hours on December 31.
How will the strike affect e-commerce deliveries?
E-commerce deliveries from platforms like Amazon and Flipkart could be impacted, particularly for same-day, next-day, and last-mile deliveries, which rely heavily on gig workers.
Are cab and ride-hailing services also part of the strike?
Yes. Gig workers from the food delivery and taxi service sectors are participating, which could affect cab availability, surge pricing, and waiting times on New Year’s Eve.
What was mentioned in the letter to the Labour Minister?
In the letter to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, unions alleged widespread worker exploitation, lack of legal protection, unsafe working conditions, and denial of constitutional rights, urging immediate government intervention.
What is the issue with algorithm-based systems?
Workers claim that AI-driven algorithms are used to impose penalties, reduce incentives, block IDs, and enforce ratings without transparency or human oversight, leaving workers with no grievance redressal mechanism.
Why is December 31 considered critical for businesses?
December 31 is one of the highest revenue-generating days of the year for restaurants, grocery stores, and e-commerce platforms. Any disruption in last-mile delivery could significantly affect year-end sales targets.
What happened during the December 25 walkout?
According to GIPSWU, a previous walkout on December 25 served as a warning, highlighting how unresolved worker issues can disrupt services and expose vulnerabilities in India’s gig economy.
Are customers advised to make alternate arrangements?
Yes. Customers are advised to:
Order early
Keep backup food or grocery options
Expect longer delivery times
Avoid last-minute dependence on delivery apps
What is meant by “misclassification” of gig workers?
Unions argue that platforms label workers as “partners” instead of employees, which excludes them from labour laws related to minimum wages, social security, insurance, and workplace safety.
Could the strike be withdrawn?
Unions have indicated that the strike could be reconsidered only if the government intervenes and initiates concrete policy action addressing their demands.
How does this strike impact India’s gig economy?
The strike highlights growing tensions in India’s gig economy, raising questions about fair pay, worker dignity, platform accountability, and long-term sustainability of app-based labour models.
