Home / Business and Economy / Delivery Partners Face Harsh Reality Despite Platform Claims
Delivery Partners Face Harsh Reality Despite Platform Claims
3 Jan
Summary
- Base pay per order has significantly fallen, impacting gig worker earnings.
- Delivery partners lack benefits afforded to traditional company employees.
- Workers demand fair compensation, safer conditions, and a ban on 10-minute deliveries.
Recent remarks by Zomato and Blinkit founder Deepinder Goyal, suggesting a fair operational model for quick commerce, have been met with criticism for their insensitivity towards delivery partners. These comments surfaced amid a December 31 strike by gig workers advocating for better pay and working conditions, a stark juxtaposition to Goyal's portrayal of the gig economy as a major job creator.
Data indicates a sharp decline in base pay per order, from Rs 22-30 in September to Rs 10-15 currently, despite the absence of benefits typically available to conventionally employed workers. The 12.7 million gig workers involved are not seeking extraordinary measures but reasonable entitlements under the Wage Code, including safer working environments and a moratorium on the risky 10-minute delivery model.
While quick commerce can theoretically achieve swift deliveries from nearby dark stores, this speed imperative often forces food delivery riders into dangerous practices to meet unrealistic timelines. The article argues that the appeal of gig work stems from a lack of alternatives, not inherent fairness, and emphasizes that worker welfare must not be sacrificed for corporate growth and valuation, urging platforms to treat delivery personnel as partners, not expendable resources.
