In a significant move highlighting growing unrest in India's platform economy, delivery and gig workers associated with major e-commerce and food delivery companies have announced a nationwide strike on two key dates: Christmas (December 25) and New Year's Eve (December 31, 2025).
Which Platforms Will Be Impacted?
The strike, called by workers' unions, is expected to disrupt services on some of India's most prominent platforms. Reports from CNBC-TV18 and The Hindu confirm that the action will impact companies including Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon, and Flipkart. This coordinated all-India strike aims to bring attention to the systemic issues faced by the workforce that powers the country's on-demand delivery services.
Core Demands and Reasons for Protest
The strike has been organized by the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) and the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union. They cite "deteriorating working conditions" as the primary reason for the industrial action.
Workers have expressed deep frustration over long working hours, steadily declining earnings per order, and unsafe delivery targets imposed by algorithms. A major point of contention is the "10-minute delivery" model, which workers say forces them to risk their lives in traffic to meet unrealistic deadlines.
Other critical grievances include a lack of job security due to arbitrary account deactivations, the absence of social security benefits like health insurance and pension, and inadequate safety gear. The unions also allege that companies engage in union-busting tactics, blackmailing workers who wish to join collective bodies.
A Detailed List of Worker Demands
The unions have presented a clear list of demands to the platform companies and the government. Their key calls to action include:
- Implementation of a transparent and fair pay structure that ensures livable wages.
- Complete withdrawal of the "10-minute delivery" promise, citing it as a major safety hazard.
- An end to the practice of blocking worker accounts without due process or proper investigation.
- Provision of improved safety gear and comprehensive accident insurance for all workers.
- Assured work allocation that is free from algorithmic discrimination and bias.
Furthermore, they demand stronger technical support with proper grievance redressal systems, along with formal recognition of their right to organize and collectively bargain.
Call for Government Intervention
The striking workers have urgently called upon both the Central and state governments to step in and regulate platform companies effectively. They demand the enforcement of existing labour protections and the implementation of a robust social security framework specifically designed for gig and platform workers.
Mohammad Inayat Ali, National Vice President of IFAT, pointed out the gap between legislation and action. He noted that while The Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025 has been introduced, its implementation on the ground remains ineffective.
"Delivery workers are being pushed to the breaking point by unsafe work models, falling incomes, and total absence of social protection," Ali told The Hindu. "This strike is a collective call for justice, dignity, and accountability. The government can no longer remain a silent spectator while platform companies profit at the cost of workers’ lives."
The planned strikes during two of the year's busiest delivery periods underscore the workers' resolve. They aim to leverage the peak demand on Christmas and New Year's Eve to amplify their message, hoping it will force a meaningful dialogue on creating a more equitable and safe gig economy in India.
