Overview
- Deepinder Goyal said ultra‑fast deliveries rely on dense store networks, not rider speed, adding that partners do not see customer timers and typically travel under 2 km at roughly 15–16 km/h.
- He shared 2025 figures of ₹102 average hourly earnings, up about 10.9% year on year, framed gig work as flexible and short‑term, and cited more than ₹100 crore spent on insurance with specified accident and medical coverage.
- Zomato and Blinkit reported about 75 lakh deliveries on December 31 and said operations continued despite strike calls, crediting law enforcement support when disruptions were reported.
- Gig worker unions rejected the company’s claims, pointing to declining per‑order payouts, long shifts, and the absence of paid leave and social security, and they argued high New Year’s Eve volumes reflected economic compulsion.
- Policy debate intensified as the labour codes move toward formal recognition of platform workers with a 1–2% turnover levy for social security, public voices like Amitabh Kant predicted gig jobs could reach 23.5 million by 2030, and commentators urged a enforceable safety floor with better insurance and fatigue controls.