Thousands of delivery and gig workers across India have announced a nationwide strike on December 31, 2025, following a successful flash protest on Christmas Day. Workers from major platforms, including Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon, and Flipkart, are protesting against deteriorating working conditions and demanding a fair wage structure. Consequently, millions of users planning New Year’s Eve celebrations may face significant delivery delays or service unavailability during peak hours.
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The 10-Minute Delivery Dispute
A primary trigger for the 2025 strike is the controversial “ultra-fast” 10-minute delivery model. Specifically, unions like the TGPWU and IFAT argue that these tight windows force riders into life-endangering traffic violations to meet algorithmic targets. Furthermore, workers are demanding an end to “arbitrary ID blocking,” where accounts are deactivated without due process. In fact, many delivery partners report that despite the sector’s rapid growth, their net earnings have consistently fallen while operational costs like fuel have surged.
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Demands for Social Security & Fair Pay
The striking workers have put forward a clear list of demands to both platform aggregators and the government. Specifically, they are seeking a minimum wage of ₹35 per delivery for distances up to 4 km. Additionally, the unions are calling for mandatory rest breaks, health insurance, and accident coverage. While the government recently introduced the Code on Social Security, workers argue that the 1-2% contribution from platforms has yet to translate into tangible benefits on the ground.
Gig Worker Strike 2025 – Key Impact & Figures
| Category | Details of Strike Impact |
| Primary Dates | December 25 and December 31, 2025 |
| Affected Platforms | Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon, Flipkart |
| Worker Participation | Estimated 40,000+ in major metros |
| Service Disruption | 50-60% delays reported in NCR, Hyderabad & Bengaluru |
| Market Reaction | Swiggy & Eternal (Zomato) shares dipped ~2% on Dec 26 |
| Key Demand | Withdrawal of 10-minute delivery models |
What Customers Should Expect on Dec 31
During the Christmas Day strike, cities like Gurugram saw waiting times exceed two hours, with many restaurants forced to use their own staff for deliveries. For New Year’s Eve, the “mega strike” is expected to cause even wider service paralysis. Consequently, users are advised to place grocery and food orders much earlier in the day or consider self-pickup. Meanwhile, aggregator companies are reportedly attempting to blunt the strike’s impact by offering higher incentives to non-striking workers and deploying third-party agencies.
Conclusion
The year-end strike highlights the growing friction between India’s fast-paced quick-commerce boom and the welfare of its gig workforce. As workers push for dignity and safety, the outcome of this protest could lead to significant policy changes in 2026 for the entire platform economy…
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Disclaimer: Service availability on December 31 depends on local union participation and platform counter-measures. Users should check real-time app notifications for the latest status in their specific location.
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