Why Blinkit ops are hit in Delhi-NCR

Blinkit is an instant delivery service for groceries and other essentials, such as dairy, fruit and vegetables, personal care items, beverages etc.

Delivery partners said because of the change in payout structure, their earnings will now be slashed by half. They are paid on a per-order basis, with added incentives for more deliveries.

“Till a year ago, we would get around Rs 50 per order, which was reduced to Rs 25 last year. A few days ago, it was reduced to Rs 12-15 per order. I have been working for Blinkit for the past year and was earning around Rs 30,000 per month. After this, my earnings will be cut to Rs 15,000 per month,” said Anand Kumar, a delivery person from Gurgaon who has been on strike since Tuesday.

To become a delivery partner with Blinkit, as per their ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section on its website, one must own a two-wheeler and an Android phone with internet connection.

“This sudden pay cut has made lives very difficult. After working here for more than two years, this is the first time they reduced their pay card amount so drastically, that too all of a sudden. This makes it difficult for us to manage daily expenses. I live in Delhi with my family, and with this meagre amount of Rs 15,000-18,000 per month, I have to manage the household, pay for petrol, and educate my three children. Even though this strike is affecting us, we don’t have any choice; we need to fight for our lives and that of our family, who depend on us,” said a delivery person who did not want to be identified.

In a statement, Blinkit said, “We have introduced a new payout structure for our partners that compensates them based on their effort to deliver an order. This is an opt-in exercise, and our teams are on the ground to answer any questions from the partners. We believe this is a positive step for our partner ecosystem, as it is fair to them and our customers. Although some locations have experienced disruptions, we are actively engaging with our partners to get the stores back up and running for our customers.”

Sources said that as per the new pay card, riders are paid between Rs 7 and Rs 10 per kilometre depending on the time slot they pick. “Morning and late evening slots pay more since that is peak delivery time. Also, now one has to book delivery slots so all riders are on the ground at the same time. The delivery radius had also been reduced to ensure efficiency and their effort. Earlier, they would travel longer distances for just one delivery. Now they can take more deliveries in the same duration,” the source said.

But drivers said the new pay card only makes life tougher for them.

“With Blinkit, I used to earn around Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 depending upon the order, but now, after this revised pay card version, it will be difficult for me to look after my family. With this wage, I have to manage the education of my two children and other family members, along with vehicle maintenance and fuel. Because I have only studied till class 10, it is difficult to find a new job now,” said a delivery partner, Rohit.