Debate Rekindled Over Gig Work Conditions
Zomato chief executive officer Deepinder Goyal’s defence of the company’s gig work model has drawn fresh criticism from the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Association (TGPWA), intensifying the debate over pay structures, benefits and working conditions in India’s rapidly expanding quick commerce sector.
Goyal’s Claims on Pay and Flexibility
In a recent post on X, Goyal outlined a five-point explanation of how delivery partners earn on Zomato and Blinkit. He said delivery partners earned an average of ₹102 per hour in 2025, excluding tips, reflecting a 10.9 percent year-on-year increase. Goyal highlighted that partners choose their working hours, retain 100 percent of customer tips and are not pressured by 10-minute delivery commitments into unsafe driving. He also cited welfare measures such as insurance coverage and pension-linked support.
Union Disputes Earnings Calculations
The TGPWA challenged these assertions, arguing that actual take-home earnings are lower once operating costs are accounted for. According to the union, after factoring in expenses such as fuel and vehicle maintenance, net earnings amount to around ₹81 per hour. This translates to roughly ₹21,000 per month for a delivery partner working 10 hours a day for 26 days, it said.
Concerns Over Benefits and Security
The union also pointed out that delivery partners do not receive paid leave, statutory social security or guaranteed accident insurance, describing current working conditions as “not decent work.” It further questioned the role of tips, stating that only about 5 percent of orders on Zomato attract tips, limiting the additional income highlighted by the company.
Nationwide Protests and Demands
Worker groups across India have been staging strikes and online protests over low pay, lack of formal labour protections and concerns around delivery timelines. The Gig & Platform Services Workers Union has called for minimum wage benchmarks and statutory benefits for platform workers.
Diverging Views and Transparency Calls
Supporters of the gig model argue such roles are designed to offer flexibility rather than traditional employment. As the debate sharpens, calls for greater transparency, including public disclosure of detailed earnings data, are gaining traction to enable fair comparison with formal sector jobs.
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