A nationwide strike by gig economy workers on New Year's Eve, demanding improved pay, safer conditions, and social security, has ignited a public debate involving prominent business leaders. Capitalmind CEO Deepak Shenoy has entered the fray, responding to comments made by Zomato and Blinkit founder Deepinder Goyal.
The Strike and the Scale of Discontent
According to reports from the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU), cited by PTI, the strike witnessed significant participation. More than 1 lakh workers across 22 Indian cities reportedly took part in the industrial action on December 31st. Their core demands centered on better remuneration, enhanced safety protocols, and access to social security benefits, highlighting growing concerns within the platform-based workforce.
CEOs Clash Over Delivery Logistics and Worker Sentiment
The strike prompted Deepinder Goyal to explain the operational dynamics of food and quick commerce delivery. In a series of tweets, he stated that delivery partners typically cover short distances, often less than two kilometres in about 8 minutes, maintaining an average speed of 15 kmph.
Capitalmind's Deepak Shenoy offered a counter-perspective. He argued that customers are often willing to wait longer, around 30 minutes, for their orders. Shenoy suggested that if store proximities are as close as Goyal indicated, delivery personnel could even complete deliveries on foot within 10 minutes. "It's sometimes far less than 10 m for me, and I don't care, I would easily wait 30m, but the dark store is like 200 meters away, so they could walk and deliver in 10," Shenoy remarked.
On the strike's impact, Shenoy presented a contrasting view. He claimed that the level of participation indicated that gig workers might not feel severely "oppressed." "The point about the delivery folks not participating in the strike is simply because they don't feel oppressed enough," he tweeted. He added that while discontent is common in any job, choosing to forgo income to protest is a significant step.
Record Deliveries and Goyal's Defense
Deepinder Goyal asserted that the strike did not hamper operations for Zomato and Blinkit, which he said achieved "record" delivery numbers on New Year's Eve. He reported that over 4.5 lakh delivery partners fulfilled more than 75 lakh orders for over 63 lakh customers in a single day across both platforms.
Goyal praised the delivery partners who worked, stating they "showed up despite intimidation, stood their ground, and chose honest work and progress." He also clarified company policy, noting, "Nothing happens if they don't deliver on time. We understand that things go wrong many times."
Addressing benefits, Goyal confirmed that every delivery partner is covered by medical and life insurance. However, he acknowledged the nature of gig work, stating it is not a permanent job and, therefore, does not offer traditional career progression paths. He concluded by admitting that no system is flawless and there is always room for improvement.
The exchange between the two industry figures underscores the complex and evolving challenges at the heart of India's booming gig economy, balancing business efficiency with worker welfare.
