Gig workers’ nationwide strike: why are they protesting?

Nationwide protests by delivery workers employed by quick e-commerce platforms on Wednesday (December 31, 2025) disrupted services in several cities, impacting consumers ahead of New Year celebrations. It has raised a six-charter demand, including fair wages, safe working conditions, social security, and workers’ right protection among others. With gig worker unions signalling continued protests and a nationwide strike on December 31, these demands could disrupt food and parcel delivery services in several cities, potentially affecting New Year celebrations as consumers face delays or reduced availability of app-based services.

In a post in X, the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) said, “Nearly 40,000 delivery workers across India participated in a nationwide flash strike on 25 December 2025, causing 50–60% service disruption in many cities. Workers are protesting unsafe work models, falling incomes, arbitrary ID blocking, police harassment, and denial of dignity and social security”. The workers’ association had attached a copy to the Secretary and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Govt of India.

With thousands of delivery workers having already participated in nationwide strikes, unions say the concerns go beyond wages and point to deeper structural issues in the platform economy. The timing of the agitation, just ahead of New Year celebrations, raises the prospect of service disruptions in major cities, even as companies brace for peak demand. Workers argue that without urgent government intervention, tensions between platforms and the workforce are likely to escalate.

Likewise, Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union, in a post on X wrote, “We urge the Hon’ble Centre and State Labour Ministers to urgently act on gig workers’ issues—unfair payouts, unsafe 10-minute delivery models and arbitrary ID blocking. Ahead of the 31 Dec National Strike, convene an immediate meeting with unions and platforms.”

The Code on Social Security, 2020, passed by Parliament, marks the first time ‘gig workers’ and ‘platform workers’ are formally recognized under Indian labour law, ensuring access to social security benefits such as life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, and old-age protection. Platform workers, a subset of gig workers, earn through online apps or digital platforms.

The Union Budget 2025-26 further emphasized their welfare by announcing e-Shram registration, identity cards, and healthcare coverage under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which provides up to ₹5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary care, though the scheme for platform workers is yet to be launched.

Similarly, Telangana Cabinet approved Telangana Gig and Platform Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025 on November 17, 2025. The act aims to regulate gig workers by registering them with the Gig and Platform Workers Welfare Board and assigning a unique ID. The Board implements state-notified social security schemes, supported by a Social Security and Welfare Fund funded by the government, workers, and platforms. Workers can access information on automated systems, determining fares, earnings, and feedback. The bill raises questions on welfare funding responsibility and how benefits will be calculated.

Karnataka promulgated the Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Ordinance, 2025 in May, empowering the state government to frame rules on key aspects of gig work. In July, the government released draft rules for public feedback, outlining the registration process, creation of a gig worker database for the Welfare Board, and mechanisms to access information on automated systems determining earnings and fares. The rules also detail appeal procedures, use of the Welfare Fund, and additional sources of contributions.

The move will impact cab-aggregators, especially Ola, Uber, Rapido, in metropolitan as well as Tier-I and Tier-II cities across the country. Moreover, the impact will encompass other platforms involved with quick e-commerce services such as Flipkart, Amazon, Zomato, Instamart, Blinkit, Zepto, among others. Food delivery apps such as Swiggy and Zomata are also likely to be affected.

In a post in X, All India Professional Congress (AIPAC) wrote, “This strike is not about inconvenience, it is about rights. Congress’s gig workers’ policy in Telangana and Karnataka was not made in isolation, but shaped with gig workers themselves, reflecting their lived realities and demands, with the AIPC Chairman and one of our MMS Fellows playing an instrumental role”.

AAP Rajya Sabhya MP Raghav Chadha recently flagged the the exploitative conditions faced by gig and app-based delivery workers, calling them the “invisible wheels of the Indian economy.” He highlighted how ultra‑fast “10‑minute delivery” models push workers into unsafe conditions, often working long hours without job security, fair pay or basic protections, and urged the government to regulate quick‑commerce platforms and ensure dignity, safety and rights for gig workers. Chadha also flagged cases where riders earned very low wages despite long shifts, underscoring the need for stronger labour rights and social security measures.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Vivek Venkatswamy, too, posted a video on X, expressing support towards the call for strike raised by the gig workers.

Actor-comedian Vir Das took to X and voiced support to the gig workers.