The walkout was apparently launched in protest of "deteriorating working conditions" by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers.
On Christmas (December 25) and New Year's Eve (December 31, 2025), delivery and gig workers connected to large e-commerce and food delivery platforms reportedly declared an all-India strike.
Which platforms are most likely to be affected?
According to CNBC-TV18 and The Hindu, platforms including Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon, and Flipkart declared an all-India strike on December 25 and December 31, 2025.
Why are gig workers demonstrating?
The walkout was organised by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers in protest of "deteriorating working conditions," according to CNBC-TV18.
Concerns regarding pay, safety, work security, and social protection were also voiced.
Delivery workers reported that they still had to deal with excessive hours, diminishing pay, risky delivery goals, arbitrary account deactivations, and a lack of welfare benefits, especially during holidays and seasons of high demand.
What are the requirements? Take away "10-minute delivery"
According to the unions' statement, their requests included:
1. Pay structures that are equitable and transparent
2. Removal of "10-minute delivery" models
3. An end to blocking accounts without following the proper procedures
4. Better safety equipment and accident coverage
5. Guaranteed work distribution free from algorithmic bias
According to the Hindu, the other demands included stronger app and technical support, including grievance redressal for routing and payment failures, better safety measures, uniform work allocation without algorithmic discrimination, job security and social security, including health insurance, accident coverage, and pension benefits, and respect and dignity at work.
"Blackmailed to join a union"
According to Hindu, the workers called on the federal and state governments to establish social security programs for gig and platform workers, enforce labor laws, and regulate platform corporations right away.
Additionally, they want the government to acknowledge gig workers' ability to band together and engage in collective bargaining.
"The Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers [Social Security and Welfare] Act, 2025 was introduced by the government, but the implementation has not yet been effective," Mohammad Inayat Ali, national vice president of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), told The Hindu.
According to Ali, the 10-minute delivery strategy still poses a serious risk to the workers' lives.
He claimed that businesses intimidated employees who wanted to become union members.
"Unsafe work models, declining incomes, and the complete lack of social protection are pushing delivery workers to the brink." This walkout is a communal demand for responsibility, justice, and dignity. He continued, "The government can no longer stand by and watch platform firms make money at the expense of workers' lives.
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