The alleged announcement by quick commerce companies to remove the promise of 10-minute deliveries for customers appears to have had little impact on the lives of gig workers so far. Delivery agents working in the national capital say that their earnings still depend on the number of deliveries they make, so the pressure to work quickly remains unchanged. Last year, during Christmas and New Year's Eve, gig workers went on strike to raise the issue of being forced to work in unsafe conditions without adequate safety measures or a guaranteed stable income in case of accidents.
No Minimum Wage, Dependent on Incentives
Delivery agents say that there is no fixed minimum wage, and the payment per delivery is very low. Therefore, they have to rely on incentives offered by the platforms, which are neither stable nor transparent. Several agents spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Incentive System Forces Fast Deliveries
One delivery partner explained that he earns only ₹1,200-1,500 after making 35 to 40 deliveries daily. He said that he earns ₹1,500–1,600 after working for about 15 hours. Due to the pressure to make more deliveries and earn incentives, we have to drive on the wrong side of the road, putting our lives at risk. Although the companies claim that there is no obligation to deliver within a fixed time limit, gig workers say that the incentive system itself forces them to make quick deliveries.
According to a 25-year-old agent, our ratings and incentives are linked to how quickly and how many deliveries we make. Another delivery partner said that to earn an incentive of ₹440, he has to complete deliveries worth ₹875, which requires completing approximately 40 orders. The payment per delivery varies from ₹15 to ₹25 depending on the day and time. Incentives depend on demand, weather, and festivals
Gig workers also reported that the incentive structure changes two to three times a day, depending on demand, weather, and festivals. A delivery agent said, "If I log in for three hours and there are fewer orders that day, I don't get any incentive. There is no fixed salary." Some incentives are also linked to working hours. Another delivery partner said that he only receives extra pay after working for about 15 hours.
No formal information received yet
Delivery agents say they have not received any formal information regarding the removal of the 10-minute delivery branding.
One agent said, "Even if this happens, very little will change for us."
"It's good that our voices are being heard, but it's not enough."
Another delivery partner said that the struggle has just begun. "The government is listening, which is a good thing. But our fight will not end until a safe and fixed payment system is established."
Dharmendra Kumar, National President of the Amazon India Workers Union, welcomed the move but said it doesn't change the business model. He said, "There is still no minimum wage, no insurance, and no security. Workers are forced to work 10-12 hours a day in the lure of high ratings and incentives."
Government crackdown on quick commerce
On Monday (January 13), the central government directed the end of the mandatory '10-minute delivery' deadline. Following the intervention of Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya, major aggregators like Blinkit, Zepto, Zomato, and Swiggy have agreed to remove this stressful deadline. This move is directly aimed at improving the safety and working conditions of millions of 'gig workers'.
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