Gig workers associated with various food and grocery delivery platforms are gearing up for a nationwide strike on New Year's Eve. Their central demand is a complete ban on the hyper-fast 10-minute delivery model, which they argue imposes unsafe and unsustainable pressure on delivery personnel.
Escalation After Christmas Disruption
This planned action comes close on the heels of a similar protest held on December 25, 2025. That earlier strike, called by multiple unions, led to significant delivery disruptions in areas like Gurugram and parts of Delhi. However, operations in Bengaluru remained largely unimpacted during the Christmas Day demonstration, highlighting potential regional variances in union strength and worker participation.
Core Demands and Worker Grievances
The primary focus of the protest is the contentious 10-minute delivery promise adopted by several quick-commerce companies. Workers contend that this model forces them to violate traffic rules, compromise their personal safety, and work under extreme stress to meet unrealistic deadlines. The unions are pushing for its abolition, alongside other long-standing demands that often include better pay structures, improved insurance benefits, and more transparent grievance redressal mechanisms.
By choosing New Year's Eve—a peak demand period for food and grocery deliveries—the workers aim to amplify the impact of their strike and draw maximum attention to their cause from both the companies and the public.
Potential Impact and Industry Response
The success of the strike will depend on widespread participation across major cities. If effective, consumers in metropolitan areas could face major delays or a complete halt in services from several popular apps on the evening of December 31st. The industry is yet to issue a formal, coordinated response to the strike call. However, individual platforms may attempt to mitigate disruptions by offering higher incentives to workers who choose to log in or by temporarily adjusting their delivery time guarantees.
This looming confrontation underscores the growing tensions within India's rapidly expanding gig economy. As companies compete on speed, the welfare of the workers forming the backbone of these services has become a critical flashpoint, setting the stage for a tense end to the year.
