India’s Gig Workers Rise: Nationwide Strike on New Year’s Eve Threatens Delivery Chaos Amid Calls for Fair Pay and Safety
Gig workers across platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon, and Flipkart have called for a nationwide strike on December 31, 2025, following disruptions caused by a similar action on Christmas Day. Organized by unions including the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT), the protest demands better wages, safer working conditions, and social security.India’s gig economy currently employs approximately 10–12 million workers (FY 2024-25), projected to grow to 23.5 million by 2029-30. The sector contributes about 1.25% to GDP and is valued at over USD 550 billion.The strike threatens major delivery delays during New Year’s Eve peak demand, especially in metro cities. Workers highlight declining earnings (some as low as ₹763 for over 15 hours of work), pressure from ultra-fast delivery targets, lack of insurance, and unsafe late-night shifts.Top states by estimated gig workforce concentration:Maharashtra: ~1.8–2.2 million
Karnataka: ~1.2–1.5 million
Delhi-NCR: ~1.1–1.4 million
Tamil Nadu: ~0.8–1.0 million
Telangana: ~0.7–0.9 million
The movement underscores growing calls for labor reforms in India’s rapidly expanding but largely unregulated gig sector.










