Gig workers’ union calls nationwide strike today; seeks better pay, end to 10-minute delivery

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The GIPSWU claims to be India’s first women-led national trade union representing gig and platform workers. Among the key demands are the discontinuation of 10- and 20-minute delivery service mandates; a minimum per-kilometre rate of Rs 20 for workers associated with platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Flipkart and BigBasket; emergency leave and comprehensive maternity protection for women service workers; and an end to arbitrary ID blocking and punitive rating systems.

The union has also sought a guaranteed minimum monthly earning of Rs 40,000, abolition of peak hours, slot systems and weekend hour limits, and compensation for workers in cases of customer-initiated cancellations. Other demands include replacing AI-based calls with 24/7 human customer support, ending mandatory pre- and post-task photo uploads and proof-of-work requirements, restoration of company hubs, and limiting women workers’ assignments to a seven-km radius from their homes.

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In its letter to the minister, the union said, “Gig workers continue to face systemic exclusion from core labour entitlements under Indian law and constitutional guarantees. Reports document pervasive harassment, discrimination, and violence against workers. This strike unites gig workers and allies to demand immediate government intervention… We would like to reiterate that Bharat can’t be Vikasit until its workers, part of India’s booming economy, continue to be exploited. Each demand is aligned with applicable labour laws.”