As per news report, food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy have increased their peak-hour incentives for delivery partners ahead of a possible nationwide strike backed by the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT), planned for December 31, 2025.
The strike threat, involving 1,70,000 individuals, is driven by concerns about wages, safety, and labour protections in the platform-based economy.
In response to the looming strike, Swiggy and Zomato have announced time-bound incentives to attract riders during New Year's Eve peak demand hours.
Swiggy will pay ₹30 per order from 4 pm to 6 pm, ₹105 from 6 pm to 10 pm, and ₹80 from 10 pm to midnight.
Zomato has structured similar incentives, with ₹30 for 4 pm to 6 pm, ₹100 for 6 pm to 10 pm, and ₹80 for 10 pm to 4 am.
Normal earnings are reported to be around ₹25 per order, highlighting the spike in peak pay offers.
The IFAT has initiated this protest citing multiple grievances among gig workers. These include declining wages, unsafe delivery conditions, high-pressure targets, arbitrary ID suspensions, and instances of police harassment.
The workers have raised demands such as fair wages, the right to organise, better enforcement of labour laws, protection from sudden penalties, and mandatory rest breaks.
Other quick-commerce platforms like Zepto, Blinkit, and Instamart are also reportedly offering additional payouts to retain delivery workers during this high-traffic period.
Although the companies have not confirmed these promotions officially, sources indicate that similar bonus structures are in place.
Previous actions by gig workers, including a protest on December 25 involving nearly 40,000 workers, had minimal impact on services. The delivery workforce remains largely unorganised, and decisions to log in are often driven by individual earnings potential, especially on high-demand days like New Year's Eve which sees up to 60% spike in orders.
Zomato and Swiggy’s decision to offer higher payouts appears to be a strategic move to maintain delivery coverage during a busy festive period. Although the proposed strike underscores structural concerns in gig economy operations, immediate effects may vary depending on worker participation and consumer demand patterns.
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Published on: Dec 31, 2025, 2:43 PM IST
Team Angel One
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