Why did Zomato-Swiggy gig workers go on strike?

A national-level strike by gig delivery partners of leading online food ordering platforms such as Zomato and Swiggy was held on December 31, 2025, which is usually one of the busiest days of the year. This is the second time a strike was being held in December. The first one was held on December 25.

What was this strike all about?

Gig workers, many organized under unions such as the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers' Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), called for strike action against food delivery and quick commerce services nationwide. Participating workers reportedly switched off apps or withheld service during peak times to press their concerns.

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Issues raised by gig and platform workers include minimal and unpredictable payments, lack of benefits related to social security, unsafe working conditions, and time-bound delivery schedules have been identified as reasons behind the December 31st strike. Prior to the proposed strike, a joint letter was presented to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya by the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers. This was done prior to the proposed strike, and it was related to government intervention concerning minimum payments, social security, and legislative protections for platform workers.

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The Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT) has, in the letter written to Mansukh Mandaviya, appealed to the government to regulate platform firms adequately using existing labour laws. The IFAT has appealed to the government to ban immediately models with “10-minute delivery” that are unsafe, as well as models with arbitrary blocking of IDs, penalties, and punishments by algorithms, as this affects the livelihoods of the transport workers. The unions are requesting the government to create fair compensation models for the reduced income experienced by transport workers.

The letter also calls for broad social security protection for gig or platform workers, including health insurance, accident insurance, and pensions. It argues for the promotion of the freedom of association and collective bargaining for workers, insisting that the unions of platform workers should be officially recognised. 

The letter indicates that the federation has appealed to the government to intervene in the matter and that there should be a tripartite dialogue among the government, the platform companies, and the trade unions. The letter explains that the countrywide strike set on the 31st of December reflects the growing impatience of gig workers about the pending matters regarding their dignity, security, and economy.

Industry Response

Food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy announced enhanced payouts and incentives for delivery partners ahead of New Year’s Eve, describing these measures as part of their standard festive-period operations. Zomato has offered delivery partners payouts ranging from ₹120 to ₹150 per order during peak hours between 6 pm and 12 am on December 31, and has signalled that delivery partners could earn additional revenues over the course of the day, subject to order volumes and availability. In addition, the platform has temporarily waived penalties on order denials and cancellations as part of the year-end incentive structure. 

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Swiggy has also increased incentives for the year-end period, offering prospects of higher earnings across December 31 and January 1 and advertising elevated peak-hour payouts to encourage adequate rider availability during one of the busiest ordering windows of the year.

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Why This Matters 

The delivery workforce is the engine that drives the food and grocery delivery service market in India in the peak seasons such as the yearend festivities. The delivery workforce’s protest raises questions about the way free freelancers are paid in a situation where they have an excessive workload due to rising costs of living. The ongoing strike on the eve of the New Year will see if there will be any further discussions about the changes in the payment system.