Overview
- National and state unions including IFAT, TGPWU and GIPSWU have called an “App Bandh” on December 31, with leaders estimating roughly 100,000–150,000 delivery agents could log off across major platforms.
- The strike is expected to affect food orders, quick-commerce groceries and last‑minute shopping in cities such as Delhi‑NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune and other tier‑2 markets, according to union statements.
- Demand charters sent to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya seek an end to 10–20 minute delivery mandates, a Rs 20 per‑km floor, guaranteed monthly minimum earnings, social security, and a halt to arbitrary ID deactivations and punitive ratings.
- Workers and unions report post‑Christmas protest retaliation with account blocks flagged as “strike enabler,” police complaints and withheld payouts, while a Karnataka union cites protections under the state’s gig workers law.
- Platforms have rolled out high‑visibility countermeasures, with Zomato touting up to Rs 6,000 for working Dec 31–Jan 1 and Swiggy running an EV giveaway, as union leaders also allege on‑ground pressure, Quick Response Teams and use of bouncers.