Gig Workers’ Issues and the Demand to Ban 10-Minute Deliveries in India

Gig workers across India are demanding a ban on 10-minute deliveries, citing road accidents, mental stress, lack of social security, and unsafe working conditions. Explore key issues, strikes, and policy implications.

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India’s booming gig economy, powered by food delivery and quick commerce platforms, has transformed urban consumption habits. However, behind the promise of 10-minute deliveries lies a growing crisis of worker safety, mental stress, and labour insecurity. The nationwide gig workers’ strikes in late 2025 have brought these concerns into sharp focus, with unions demanding a complete ban on ultra-fast delivery models.

This article examines the key issues faced by gig workers, the logic behind banning 10-minute deliveries, and the policy implications for India’s labour and urban governance framework.

What Is the 10-Minute Delivery Model?

The 10-minute delivery model promises ultra-fast doorstep delivery of food or groceries, primarily through dark stores and hyper-local logistics. While attractive to consumers, the model relies heavily on last-mile delivery riders meeting extremely tight timelines enforced by algorithms.

Major platforms offering or promoting such services include Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, and BigBasket.

Key Issues Faced by Gig Workers in India

1. Road Safety and Accidents

The biggest concern linked to 10-minute deliveries is road safety.

Unrealistic timelines force riders to speed
Signal jumping and risky overtaking increase
Higher accident rates, especially at night and during peak hours

Gig workers argue that no incentive can compensate for the loss of life or permanent injury.

2. Mental Stress and Algorithmic Pressure

Gig work is governed by opaque algorithms:

Continuous tracking of speed and delivery time
Penalties for delays beyond the rider’s control (traffic, weather, accidents)
Fear of deactivation due to poor ratings

This leads to chronic anxiety, burnout, and psychological distress, especially during high-demand days like festivals and New Year’s Eve.

3. Absence of Social Security

Despite being central to platform profitability, gig workers lack:

Health insurance
Accident compensation
Paid sick leave
Old-age or disability security

Earnings depend heavily on temporary incentives, not stable wages.

4. Informal Employment Status

Most platforms classify riders as independent contractors, not employees. This excludes them from:

Minimum wage protection
Formal grievance redressal
Collective bargaining rights

The result is high risk with low legal protection.

Why Are Gig Workers Demanding a Ban on 10-Minute Deliveries?

The demand to ban 10-minute deliveries gained momentum after coordinated strikes led by unions such as the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers.

The call was strongly articulated by Shaik Salauddin, who argued that ultra-fast delivery models:

Treat human labour as expendable
Prioritise consumer convenience over worker lives
Create unsafe urban traffic conditions
Shift corporate risk onto riders

According to unions, banning 10-minute deliveries does not end convenience—it restores human dignity and safety.

Impact of Gig Workers’ Strikes

Up to 1.7 lakh delivery workers pledged participation nationwide
Christmas and New Year strikes caused 10–20% order decline in affected cities
Platforms were forced to roll out extra incentives, exposing their dependence on rider availability

The strikes revealed a crucial truth: algorithms cannot replace human labour during peak demand.

Government and Policy Dimensions

Labour Law Challenges

India’s existing labour laws struggle to address platform-based work. Although the Code on Social Security, 2020 recognises gig workers, implementation remains weak.