Zomato, Swiggy Offer Higher Incentives Ahead of New Year Amid Strike Call
New Delhi: Food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy have announced enhanced incentives for delivery partners ahead of New Year’s Eve, even as gig workers’ unions have called for a nationwide strike on December 31 demanding better pay and working conditions. Industry sources said the incentives are aimed at ensuring uninterrupted food delivery and quick commerce services during one of the busiest periods of the year.
The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) have claimed that lakhs of gig workers are expected to participate in the strike. In a joint statement, TGPWU said more than 1.7 lakh app-based workers across India had confirmed participation, with numbers likely to rise by evening.
The strike is expected to affect platforms including Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Instamart and Zepto, particularly during late evening hours when demand peaks. Union leaders said the protest follows a large-scale walkout on December 25 and accused platforms of failing to address concerns over declining earnings, unsafe delivery pressures and lack of dignity at work.
Zomato has reportedly offered per-order payouts ranging from ₹120 to ₹150 during peak hours between 6 pm and midnight on December 31. Delivery partners may earn up to ₹3,000 over the day depending on order volumes, with penalties on order denials and cancellations temporarily waived. A spokesperson for Eternal, which owns Zomato and Blinkit, said such incentives are part of standard festive operating protocols.
Swiggy has also stepped up incentives, advertising earnings of up to ₹10,000 across December 31 and January 1. For New Year’s Eve, it is offering peak-hour earnings of up to ₹2,000 during the six-hour evening window to ensure rider availability.
Our Final Thoughts
The contrasting developments underline ongoing tensions between platforms and gig workers. While incentives may help meet short-term demand, unions say lasting solutions will require structured dialogue on pay, safety and working conditions.