employees strike
Delivery workers of Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon and Flipkart are planning to strike on 25 and 31 December. The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers and Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union are leading this movement. Their demand is that they should get job guarantee, better salary, safe working environment and social security benefits. This protest shows the growing concern over the conditions of delivery workers amidst the earnings of platform companies.
The strike has been called by the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) and Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) to raise their voice against the deteriorating working conditions and low wages. By posting a video on social media platform X, the unions appealed to delivery workers of all platforms including Swiggy, Zomato and Flipkart Minutes to join it. He described it as a nationwide movement, which has been timed to coincide with the busiest days of food delivery and quick commerce services.
The unions are demanding job security, higher salaries, safe working conditions and social security benefits. Sheikh Salahuddin, founding president of TGPWU, said in a statement that delivery workers are facing extremely difficult conditions due to unstable working structures, declining earnings and complete lack of social security. He said that this strike is a demand for justice, respect and responsibility. The government can no longer remain silent when platform companies are earning profits by putting the lives of workers at risk.
This proposed strike is taking place a few weeks after the government implemented new labor laws, in which for the first time a clear definition of gig work, platform work and aggregator has been given. Under these rules, online platforms that depend on gig workers for delivery, warehouse and related services will have to deposit 1-2% of their annual turnover in the Gig Worker Welfare Fund. After this announcement, Zomato’s parent company Eternal and Swiggy said that they will comply with the new labor laws. He also said that these changes will not have any major impact on his long-term business or financial position.
Also read- Revised ITR or Belated ITR? Which filing is necessary before 31st December?