Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato strike today: Unable to book services? Check when it will ease and what the unions are demanding

App-based drivers and delivery workers across India are preparing for a nationwide shutdown on February 7, 2026, in what unions are calling a fight for survival rather than just a protest.

Thousands of workers linked to platforms such as Ola, Uber, Rapido, Porter, Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit and Zepto are expected to join the All-India Breakdown, raising concerns about transport and delivery disruptions in several cities.

The strike is being led by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), who say incomes have dropped sharply while work pressure continues to rise.

Why are gig workers going on strike?

At the heart of the protest is the government’s failure to notify minimum base fares under the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025.

According to unions, despite the guidelines being in place, companies continue to fix fares on their own terms, leaving workers with little say in how much they earn.

Drivers claim they are now working longer hours for lower pay, with rising fuel costs, maintenance expenses and zero social security.

Union leaders argue that without government-fixed base fares, earnings have become unpredictable and unsustainable.

What are the unions saying?

Shaik Salauddin, Founder President of TGPWU and Co-Founder and National General Secretary of IFAT, said platforms are taking advantage of policy delays.

“The Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, clearly mandate consultation with recognised worker unions before fare fixation. However, governments have failed to act, enabling platforms to deepen exploitation,” he said.

He added that companies are transferring operational risks, fuel, repairs, insurance and time, entirely onto workers while continuing to cut incentives.

Will services be affected?

If participation is widespread, commuters may face:

• Longer wait times for cabs
• Fewer Ola and Uber rides
• Delays in food deliveries
• Disruptions in quick-commerce services

Delivery workers say peak-hour services could be severely impacted, especially in metros.

Not the first protest

This is not the first time gig workers have taken to the streets.

Earlier, delivery agents affiliated with IFAT staged a nationwide strike, alleging unfair wages, poor working conditions and lack of social security benefits. Workers said their earnings had fallen despite spending long hours on the road.

“Gig workers built these unicorns”

An AAP MP, speaking to ANI, highlighted the imbalance in the platform economy.

“Swiggy, Zomato delivery boys, Blinkit, Zepto riders, Ola and Uber drivers are the workforce on whose backs these companies have become unicorns with billion-dollar valuations. Yet they remain the most oppressed in the ecosystem,” he said.

What do workers want?

The key demands include:

• Government-notified minimum base fares
• Transparent fare calculation
• Consultation with unions
• Social security benefits
• Fair incentives and commissions

For many workers, the February 7 strike is not just about wages but about dignity and long-term stability.

If talks fail, the gig economy, which millions of urban Indians rely on daily, could see more frequent disruptions in the coming months.

Inputs from agencies