Celebrities, netizens show solidarity with gig workers as New Year's Eve strike intensifies

Quick commerce and food delivery companies made headlines this New Year's Eve as delivery partners for all platforms went on a strike, demanding better payouts and improved working conditions. Netizens and celebrities voiced their support for gig workers online, supporting the strike, and some even refused to order on these apps on December 31.

Comedian Kunal Kamra took to his social media to back gig workers. "They are not jobs as they have no fixed hours. They have no social security. There is no minimum wages," he wrote in a post. (sic) He also hit out at those suggesting that tipping them well will solve their problems. "Sure. What’s the ideal tip for facing 365 days of pollution, 90 Days of rain, 90 Days of summer & 90 days of Winter. For fuel, data & maintaining their Vehicle," Kamra said. (sic)

The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers' Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) have claimed that lakhs of workers have joined the nationwide strike. The workers' bodies have claimed that many of their members, associated with companies like Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Instamart, and Zepto, have stayed away from work, but company insiders said it has been business as usual.


Actor and comedian Vir Das said the gig workers' demands are "reasonable." "Stand in support with gig workers," he said. Another user wrote on X, "Your convenience mustn’t result in someone’s exploitation."

Delivery workers have sought the end of the 10-minute delivery model. Many netizens backed this, saying no one needs any service in 10 minutes, except for ambulance and emergency medical services. "It creates unnecessary stress and danger for delivery agents, adds to traffic and pollution as people use these for delivery trips for minor items instead of consolidating requirements into fewer deliveries," one person wrote on X.

"Never seen anyone dying because of a delivery taking 30 minutes. Seen many delivery partners ending up in the trauma centre because of this 10-minute things," said another. (sic)

Amid the strike call, ET had reported earlier that companies are offering delivery partners higher payouts during peak hours of between 6 pm and 12 midnight.