Delivery workers associated with app-based platforms across India went on a nationwide strike demanding better pay, enhanced social security benefits and improved working conditions, organisers and participating unions said on Tuesday. The protest saw riders and delivery personnel down tools in major metropolitan areas, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata, affecting food deliveries, e-commerce consignments and courier services.
According to worker associations, the strike was a response to prolonged grievances over stagnant earnings, rising operational costs and lack of formalised welfare measures. Delivery workers have long argued that earnings per order have declined in recent years despite increased work pressure, unpredictable incentives and rising fuel prices. Many workers also highlighted the absence of structured social security benefits such as health coverage, accident protection and retirement plans that formal employees typically receive.
Organisers reported that large numbers of riders and delivery staff congregated at designated city junctions and main roads during peak hours to press their demands, leading to temporary congestion and delays. In several areas, workers carried placards calling for “livable wages,” “social security now, and “recognition of worker rights,” drawing attention to their collective call for industry reforms.
Industry experts said the action underscored long-standing structural issues in the gig economy, where millions of contract-based workers lack basic job protections and depend on algorithm-driven platforms that set pay rates with limited transparency. Analysts noted that the strike could prompt renewed dialogue between platform companies and worker representatives to explore sustainable models that balance business viability with fair compensation and worker welfare.
Representatives from key delivery aggregators have acknowledged awareness of the strike and said they are willing to engage in discussions with worker groups. However, company spokespeople also emphasised autonomy for customers and ongoing efforts to streamline operations without committing to specific changes immediately.
Transport authorities in several states advised commuters to plan alternative arrangements as delivery disruptions continued through the day. Consumers reported delays and cancellations of food and parcel orders, while restaurants and local businesses expressed concern over order fulfilment challenges during the strike.
As the nationwide stop-work action unfolds, both worker groups and industry stakeholders face mounting pressure to find common ground that addresses immediate issues and sets a framework for long-term stability within India’s rapidly growing gig workforce.
