In a significant show of solidarity, gig workers across Maharashtra are set to bring food delivery services to a halt on December 25. The one-day strike, called by the Gig Workers Union, aims to amplify demands for fair compensation, social security benefits, and better working conditions in the state's rapidly growing app-based service sector.
Roots of the Protest: The Sambhajinagar Strike
The statewide action is in support of Zomato delivery executives in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, who have been on an indefinite strike since December 22. These workers have raised serious grievances regarding poor pay, the absence of social security nets, and what they describe as exploitative working conditions. The workers formally submitted a memorandum of their demands to the Divisional Assistant Labour Commissioner, who has acknowledged the issue.
Officials from Zomato were summoned for a hearing on December 23 but did not attend. Consequently, the next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for January 1, 2026.
Key Demands: From Wages to Welfare
Dr. Laxman Aare, General Secretary of the Gig Workers Union and President of the Indian Labour Federation, highlighted a drastic reduction in earnings. He stated that payment rates in Sambhajinagar have plummeted from ₹10 per kilometre seven years ago to just ₹5 per kilometre today, despite steep increases in fuel and living costs.
The union has presented a list of 12 core demands to the labour commissioner. These include:
- Payment for pickup trips to the restaurant.
- Compensation for return journeys.
- Abolition of penalties for delivery delays or accidents.
- An end to harassment based on customer ratings.
- Government-mandated minimum rate of ₹15 per kilometre.
- Guaranteed minimum wages and coverage under Provident Fund (PF), Employees' State Insurance (ESI), and health insurance.
- Regulation of working hours and mandatory rest periods.
- Legal recognition and protection for gig workers.
Dr. Aare criticized the current incentive structure, noting that attractive offers are often only available after 11 pm, when most restaurants and shops are closed.
Widespread Support and Expected Impact
The Gig Workers Union, registered in Mumbai and Sambhajinagar, boasts around 16,000 active members across Maharashtra. Dr. Aare estimates that between 2 lakh to 2.5 lakh workers from major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Nagpur will participate in the December 25 strike, potentially causing major disruptions on food delivery platforms.
This protest follows earlier actions, including a 'Black Friday' demonstration on November 28, where unions urged the Maharashtra government to regulate app-based platforms. The current strike has garnered support from a broad coalition of labour organizations, including the Platform App-Based and Other Commerce Workers Union, Janpahal General Workers Union, Indian Labour Federation, and the Amazon India Labour Union.
Shankar Thakkar, National Minister of the Confederation of All Traders (CAT), also expressed solidarity, asserting that "companies exploiting delivery workers must be held accountable."
The planned strike underscores the growing unrest within India's gig economy, a sector that has expanded rapidly but remains largely unregulated, leaving workers without basic protections and fair remuneration.
