Your New Year’s Eve party plans might face a major hurdle as gig workers across India have announced a massive nationwide strike on December 31, 2025. Delivery partners associated with giants like Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon, and Flipkart are set to halt services to protest against deteriorating working conditions and unsafe delivery models.
Nationwide Service Disruption
The strike, organized by the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) and the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU), follows a similar flash strike held on Christmas (December 25). With New Year’s Eve being one of the busiest days for food and grocery apps, the strike could lead to significant delays, order cancellations, and "service unavailable" messages across major metropolitan hubs like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad.
Why Are Gig Workers Striking?
The unions have highlighted several "breaking point" issues that have pushed nearly one crore platform workers toward this collective action:
- The 10-Minute Delivery Model: Workers are demanding the immediate withdrawal of ultra-fast delivery mandates. They argue these models force them to take life-threatening risks on congested roads to meet impossible deadlines.
- Fair Wage Demands: Unions are pushing for a transparent wage structure. Currently, workers often earn as little as ₹7 to ₹15 per delivery. They are demanding a minimum of ₹35 per delivery for distances up to 4 km.
- Arbitrary ID Blocking: A major grievance is the "algorithmic control" where workers' IDs are blocked without due process or a chance to appeal, often based on a single customer complaint.
- Lack of Social Security: Despite the new Social Security Code implemented in November 2025, workers claim the benefits haven't reached the ground level. They are seeking functional accident insurance, health cover, and pension benefits.
Strategic Timing
"We have decided upon December 31 as the demand for deliveries will be very high. We want the employers and the government to take notice of our struggle," said Shaik Salauddin, National General Secretary of IFAT.
While some platforms may offer higher incentives to lure workers during the holiday, the unions have called for a total boycott to demand dignity and accountability.
What Should Consumers Expect?
If the strike gains full momentum:
- Food Apps: Zomato and Swiggy might show limited restaurant availability or long wait times.
- Quick Commerce: Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart may suspend operations in high-impact zones.
- E-commerce: Amazon and Flipkart deliveries scheduled for the year-end might see a 24-48 hour delay.
The government and platform companies have yet to issue a formal response to the strike notice.
