India's booming quick commerce sector is facing intense scrutiny, sparking debates that span from political discourse to viral social media criticism. Amid this growing controversy, Zomato's CEO Deepinder Goyal has stepped forward as a key defender of the gig-economy model, offering a provocative social perspective on the public discomfort surrounding it.
Goyal's Social Mirror: Guilt at the Doorstep
In a detailed post on the social media platform X, Goyal presented a core argument: the gig economy does not create societal inequality but rather exposes it to those previously shielded from it. He elaborated that for centuries, the labour of the poor remained invisible to the wealthy, who consumed its outcomes without confronting the individuals behind it.
"This is the first time in history at this scale that the working class and consuming class interact face-to-face, transaction after transaction," Goyal wrote. He suggested that the current discomfort stems from this direct encounter. "We want these people to look our part, so that the guilt we feel while taking orders from them feels less."
He painted a stark picture of the modern transaction, noting that a single ₹800 order might equal a delivery partner's entire day's earnings after accounting for expenses. "We tip awkwardly, or avoid eye contact, because the inequality is no longer abstract. It's personal," he stated, framing every doorbell ring as a reminder of systemic divides.
Regulation vs. Livelihood: The Core Debate
Addressing calls for stricter regulation or bans, Goyal warned of unintended consequences. The core of his position is that banning gig work does not solve inequality but removes vital livelihoods. He argued that such jobs would not magically transform into formal employment; instead, they would vanish or revert to an even less protected informal sector.
"Over-regulate it until the model breaks, and you achieve the same outcome through paperwork instead of slogans: the work evaporates, prices rise, demand collapses, and the people we claim to protect are the first to lose income," Goyal asserted in defence of the current model.
His comments arrive at a critical juncture, coming just two days after delivery workers from various e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms held protests in multiple cities. Their demands included better pay, safer working conditions, and crucial social security benefits.
Government Steps In: New Draft Labour Codes
As the public debate rages, the government has taken a significant step. On Thursday, it pre-published draft rules for the four labour codes, which for the first time formally outline social security benefits for gig and platform workers in India.
According to the draft rules, to be eligible for benefits under the codes, a gig worker must have been engaged with an aggregator for at least 90 days in the last financial year, or 120 days in the case of multiple aggregators. The four codes, including the Code on Social Security, 2020, were officially notified on the same day, marking a historic move to bring gig workers under a national social security net.
The convergence of executive commentary, worker protests, and regulatory action highlights a pivotal moment for India's quick-commerce revolution. The sector now stands at the intersection of economic growth, technological disruption, and a profound social reckoning.
