‘My cigarette can wait’: Netizens back gig workers’ strike on New Year’s Eve – here’s why and what they want

As people across India prepare for New Year’s Eve celebrations, a large section of food delivery and taxi services is slowing down. Gig and platform worker unions have called a nationwide strike on December 31, 2025, accusing app-based companies of denying workers their basic rights. The protest comes at a time when orders are usually at their highest, making the strike hard to miss for customers in many cities.

The Gig and Platform Services Workers Union (GIPSWU) has written to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, saying gig workers are facing “systemic exclusion from core labour entitlements”. In its letter, the union said app-based workers are denied protections that are guaranteed under Indian law and the Constitution.

The union also warned that ignoring these issues could hurt India’s growth. It pointed to a nationwide delivery workers’ strike on December 25 as an early sign of rising anger among workers. According to GIPSWU, today’s strike builds on last year’s digital strike and demonstrates the significant dependence of the platform economy on workers’ labour.

The primary reason workers are protesting is the combination of rising work pressure, falling earnings, and growing safety concerns. In its detailed demand charter, GIPSWU called for an immediate end to “10–20 minute service delivery mandates”.

The union said such timelines force workers to rush on busy roads, especially during peak traffic hours, putting their lives and others at risk. This pressure, workers say, has become normal across food and grocery delivery platforms.

The charter submitted to the Labour Minister lists several demands. One key demand is a legally fixed minimum rate of Rs 20 per kilometre for workers linked to platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Flipkart and BigBasket. The union has also asked for a guaranteed minimum monthly earning of Rs 40,000.

Other demands include emergency leave, full maternity protection for women workers, and workplace safety measures. The union wants an end to arbitrary ID blocking and what it calls punitive rating systems. It has also demanded compensation when customers cancel orders.

Workers have asked for a cap of 20% on all deductions, including auto-advance credit recoveries. They want opaque performance metrics removed and AI-based customer support replaced with 24/7 human support. The charter also calls for ending mandatory pre- and post-task photo uploads and proof-of-work requirements and for restoring company hubs.

For women workers, the union has demanded that work be limited to a seven-kilometre radius from their homes. It has also asked for the abolition of peak hours, slot systems and weekend hour limits.

Most importantly, the union wants platform workers to be legally recognised as “workers” under labour laws, instead of being called “partners”, a label it says is used to deny statutory benefits.

The strike is expected to affect food delivery, grocery orders and last-minute shopping on New Year’s Eve. Disruptions are likely in cities such as Pune, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata, along with several tier-2 markets.

Delivery executives are expected to log off apps or sharply cut availability during peak lunch, dinner and late-night hours, when demand is usually high.

The strike has sparked strong reactions on X. One user wrote, “I fully support the gig workers' strike. The 10-minute delivery options are not only unrealistic, but they also promote rash driving under pressure. Customers must understand this. Heavens are not going to fall in another 15 mins. Managements are bastards.”

Another urged people to stay away from apps, saying, “Please do not order from any platform today. Gig workers are on strike. Let’s support them.”

One post said, “It's all a demand and supply game… the gig workers too can't really participate in the entirety of the strike.” Another added, “Support the #GigWorkersStrike. Do your groceries yourself… Everybody deserves to live with dignity and without exploitation.”

One user joked about stocking up on snacks on foot, while another wrote, “The only things India needs in 10 mins are ambulances, police, and firefighters. My Lays and sutte ka packet can wait.”

One sharp comment read, “‘Partners’ on paper, but exploited in reality, this is the #Doglapan of apps promising 10-minute deliveries at the cost of lives.”

According to a PTI report, Zomato has offered delivery partners payouts of Rs 120 to Rs 150 per order during peak hours between 6 pm and 12 am on December 31.

The platform has also indicated that delivery partners could earn up to Rs 3,000 over the course of the day, depending on order volumes and availability. Zomato has additionally waived penalties on order denials and cancellations for the period.