Page 3 - Gig Economy

Zomato, Swiggy raise gig worker payouts amid New Year's Eve strike call

Food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy are offering more incentives to their delivery partners, a standard practice they follow on festive periods, to ensure minimal disruptions in services on New Year's Eve amid strike call by gig workers' unions. Telangana Gig and Platform Workers' Union (TGPWU) and Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) have claimed that lakhs of workers are set to join the nationwide strike to demand better payouts and improved working conditions. The strike may affect the operations of food delivery and quick commerce firms like Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Instamart and Zepto on New Year's Eve, when demand is at an all-time high, according to industry sources. Zomato has offered delivery partners payouts of Rs 120 to Rs 150 per order during peak hours between 6 pm and 12 am on New Year's Eve. The platform has also promised earnings of up to Rs 3,000 over the course of the day, subject to order volumes and worker availability, people in the know

Too drunk to drive? Telangana gig workers offer free New Year rides

To ensure safer New Year celebrations, Telangana gig workers are offering free late-night rides for intoxicated individuals across Hyderabad and nearby areas to reduce road accidents

Quick gateway: Hotels see rise in last-minute bookings ahead of New Year

Hotels near metros are seeing a sharp late surge in New Year's Eve bookings and higher rates, while restaurants and delivery firms face disruptions amid a gig workers' strike

Delivery firms brace for gig workers' logout strike on December 31

Delivery and quick commerce platforms are tightening operations and safety measures ahead of December 31 as gig worker unions plan a nationwide log-out strike over pay, conditions and social security

Why Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon delivery partners are on strike on Dec 25, 31

According to the worker unions, gig workers are demanding clear and fair pay systems and the withdrawal of "10-minute delivery" models, which they say put lives at risk

Food delivery platforms employed 1.37 million in FY24, says NCAER

For every ₹10 lakh of output generated on such platforms, output yielded for the economy is ₹20.5 lakh

India's food delivery sector generated ₹1.2 trn output in FY24: Report

Direct employment by the sector increased to 1.37 million in 2023-24 from 1.08 million workers in 2021-22

Drone delivery could make a big impact in India: Geodnet cofounder

Network offers cm-level accuracy for autonomous vehicles and drones; plans local hardware production and rural coverage expansion

EPFO pension and PF cover to self-employed, gig staff? Here's what we know

The Centre reportedly is planning to ask EPFO to design new provident fund and pension schemes for self-employed and gig workers under the Social Security Code, offering flexible contributions

From margins to mainstream: Gig workers finally get formal safety net

The newly notified labour codes represent a transformative and historic reform for India's gig economy, finally bringing this vast segment of workers under formal regulatory recognition and social security. For the delivery partner dropping off groceries or the driver navigating city traffic, this move signals the end of legal invisibility, transitioning them from the fringes of the "unorganised" sector into a formal social security net. The introduction of uniform employment rights, mandatory appointment letters, and access to benefits such as provident funds, ESIC, and insurance has laid a new foundation for stability and predictability for millions of gig and platform workers across India, experts say. However, the implementation poses operational challenges owing to the fluid and varied nature of gig work, requiring robust compliance mechanisms and behavioural adaptations from both platform companies and workers. "For the first time, this rapidly expanding segment of the ...

Dialogue among employers, workers key as labour codes take effect: ILO DG

International Labour Organization Director-General Gilbert F Houngbo has said social dialogue among government employers and workers will remain essential as the labour codes are implemented to ensure they are positive for workers and business. In a post on X, he said: "Following with interest developments of India's new Labour Codes announced today, including on social protection & minimum wages." In a landmark overhaul of labour laws, the government on Friday notified all four labour codes, ushering in major reforms, including universal social security coverage for gig workers, mandatory appointment letters for all employees, and statutory minimum wages and timely payment across sectors. Meanwhile, reacting to the labour codes, Sajja Praveen Chowdary, Director, Policybazaar for Business said making annual health checks mandatory for employees above 40 years marks an important shift in how organisations view workforce wellbeing. In the long run, this alignment of policy and ...

Labour codes will boost social security access for gig workers: Eternal

Eternal Ltd on Saturday welcomed the implementation of the four labour codes, which it said will help strengthen the social security access for gig workers, including for it Zomato and Blinkit businesses. In a regulatory filing, Eternal, the parent entity of Zomato and Blinkit said it does not think the financial impact on account of these rules will be detrimental to long-term health and sustainability of its business. The government on Friday notified the four labour codes, which have rationalised 29 existing labour laws. These will formalise employment, strengthen worker protection, and make the labour ecosystem simpler, safer and globally aligned. The four labour codes are -- the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. Under the new codes, 'gig work', 'platform work', and 'aggregators' have been defined for the first time. The codes stipulate that aggregat

Zomato, Swiggy to give up to 2% yearly turnover for welfare of gig workers

Food delivery and quick commerce platforms like Zomato, Swiggy and Zepto must now contribute up to 2 per cent of their turnover for gig and platform worker welfare

Centre pushes labour reforms, notifies codes; draft rules out soon

Govt to soon put draft rules in public domain for consultation

China can't afford to ignore its army of gig workers amid job crunch

A bestselling memoir exposes the harsh reality of China's delivery workforce and why policymakers must prioritise protections as the economy pivots to high tech

Govt enforces four labour codes; rationalises 29 existing labour laws

The Centre has brought all four Labour Codes into force from November 21, rationalising 29 old laws to improve worker welfare, and simplify rules for businesses

'Illegal, unsafe': Karnataka govt panel urges continuation of bike-taxi ban

Karnataka's expert panel has backed the continued ban on bike taxis, calling them illegal, unsafe and outside the Motor Vehicles Act

Australian fintech MyGigsters expands to India to power the future of work

Backed by major investors and strategic partners, the company aims to help 10 million independent workers access financial security by 2030

BC network faces heat from qcom platforms as agents take up gig work

The business correspondent banking channel is facing attrition as agents are leaving over declining commissions, despite bringing in more new deposits than branches

Festive hiring in India rises 17% as gig, temporary jobs surge: Report

Overall hiring volumes grew by 17 per cent year-on-year across key consumption-linked sectors during the August-October period, driven by heightened consumer sentiment, attractive festive promotions, and wider geographic penetration, according to a report. According to the report by workforce solutions provider Adecco India, there was a 25 per cent surge in gig and temporary jobs compared to the same period in 2024. The report, based on an analysis of internal data and external reports, noted that the weeks leading up to Dussehra and beyond saw a sharp rise in temporary staffing across retail, e-commerce, BFSI, logistics, and hospitality. Adecco had projected 2.16 lakh gig and temporary jobs in 2025, and within just three months, the industry has seen 37 per cent growth in temporary hiring and 15-20 per cent uptick in deployment of gig workers, underscoring the strength of seasonal demand. "India's festive hiring this year reflects both economic confidence and the growing maturity