A planned four-hour strike by unions representing gig economy workers in Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon saw a muted response across the city. The protest, called by the West Bengal Gig Workers' Union, demanded an increase in incentives for delivery partners working with major platforms like Swiggy and Zomato.
Strike Call Meets Mixed Response
The strike was scheduled between 12 pm and 4 pm on December 31st, targeting the busy New Year's Eve period. However, the call for work stoppage did not significantly disrupt delivery services. Most delivery partners in Kolkata chose to stay away from the protest and continued providing their usual services. Other quick-commerce and food delivery apps, including Zepto and Blinkit, were also observed operating normally.
Social Media Buzz Affects Consumer Behavior
Despite the limited participation from workers, the strike notice had a tangible effect on the market. The protest gained considerable traction on social media platforms, leading many potential customers to alter their plans. Apprehensive about potential delivery issues, a large number of people refrained from placing orders. This resulted in a surprising drop in sales volume during what is typically a peak business period.
Subho Ghosh, a delivery partner with Zomato, noted the unusual lull. "Normally, I don't have any time to sit between 12 pm and 4 pm, but today there are fewer orders, which is surprising as it is Dec 31," he said, highlighting the disconnect between the strike's actual impact and public perception.
Voices from the Ground: Demands and Reality
The union's leadership emphasized the economic hardship driving the protest call. Surajit Bose, president of the West Bengal Gig Workers' Union, stated, "The delivery boys, despite toiling for 11 or 12 hours, return home with as meagre as Rs 300-350 income. This needs to change. One needs at least Rs 15,000 to survive. We want the govt to bring legislation that would ensure a minimum decent wage."
Conversations with other delivery agents revealed a lack of awareness about the strike and differing priorities. A delivery agent for Zepto commented, "I am not aware of any strike. Today is a busy day for us. More orders mean more incentives." This sentiment underscores the fragmented nature of gig worker organization.
MD Amin Ali, a Swiggy delivery agent, expressed solidarity with the cause but was unaware of the local action. He explained the incentive structure: "For 14 orders, I get Rs 95 and for 19 it is Rs 150. If I knew of any protest here, I would have participated." His statement points to the challenges in mobilizing a dispersed workforce and the critical need for better communication among workers.
Analysis and Takeaways
The event highlights the growing unrest within India's gig economy workforce over pay structures and working conditions. While the strike's immediate operational impact in Kolkata was minimal, its viral spread on social media proved it could influence consumer behavior significantly. The day's events underscore a crucial gap between union calls for collective action and the on-ground reality for many individual workers, who often prioritize daily earnings and may lack organized channels of information. The demand for government intervention to legislate a minimum wage for gig workers is likely to remain a central topic as the sector continues to expand.
