Gig workers with Amazon, Zomato, Swiggy plan nationwide strike on December 31 over working conditions

Food delivery and online shopping plans for New Year’s Eve could run into trouble this year, with delivery partners from some of the country’s biggest platforms calling for an all-India strike on December 31. The proposed protest may affect services across food delivery, quick commerce and ecommerce apps, including Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon and Flipkart, at a time when demand is usually at its highest.

According to a report by CNBC-TV18, the strike call has been jointly given by the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) and the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union. The timing is significant, as both December 25 and December 31 are among the busiest days of the year for these platforms, driven by festive meals, parties and last-minute shopping. If the strike sees wide participation, customers could face delayed deliveries, limited availability of delivery partners, or even temporary service disruptions in some cities.

The unions say the decision to go on strike comes after long-standing concerns around working conditions in the gig economy failed to see meaningful resolution. Delivery partners argue that while platforms continue to push for faster deliveries and higher order volumes, earnings for workers have either stagnated or declined. Many claim they are being forced to stay logged in for longer hours just to make a basic income, especially during peak days and festivals.