Gig Workers Union Chief Calls for Scrapping 10-Minute Delivery Option in Telangana
Salauddin said around 40,000 workers from across India backed the December 25 protest, adding that the union is still open to talks with delivery companies.
Hyderabad: Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) president Shaik Salauddin has demanded that all delivery platforms scrap the 10-minute delivery option and restore the earlier payout system. He said around 40,000 gig workers across the country participated in the union’s protest on December 25 and added that the union is willing to hold talks with delivery companies.
“Our key demands are the restoration of the old payout structure and the removal of the 10-minute delivery feature from all platforms. We had announced strikes on December 25 and December 31, and on the 25th, nearly 40,000 workers nationwide supported the protest. We are open to discussions and urge both the state and central governments to step in,” Salauddin told ANI.
He said the agitation is being carried out in stages and warned of intensified action. “On December 25, about 40,000 workers joined the protest, leading to delays in 50 to 60 per cent of orders. What happened that day was only the beginning; the full impact will be seen on December 31,” he said.
Salauddin added that delivery workers from platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto and Amazon have come together under the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) to push for long-pending demands. He said the union has submitted five major demands to platform companies, with the primary one being the reinstatement of the previous payment system. According to him, workers earlier received fair compensation during festivals like Dussehra, Diwali and Bakrid, and such a system should be implemented on a regular basis.
He also alleged that algorithm-driven management has negatively impacted workers’ earnings, pointing to unclear payment structures and irregular incentives. In addition, workers are demanding a transparent grievance redressal system and access to social security benefits.
Claiming growing momentum for the movement, Salauddin said more than 1.5 lakh workers across India are backing the protest, with more expected to join. He further alleged that aggregator companies are trying to intimidate workers by deploying bouncers near warehouses, blocking delivery IDs, and exerting pressure through team leaders and area managers. “Such tactics will not deter us,” he said.
Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha reiterated his demand for a ban on 10-minute delivery services, alleging that these platforms exploit gig workers while generating massive valuations. In an interview with ANI, Chadha said gig workers form the backbone of companies like Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, Ola and Uber, yet remain the most overworked and underprotected.
Chadha argued that the 10-minute delivery promise forces workers to drive recklessly, causes stress and anxiety, and exposes them to customer abuse if deliveries are delayed, all while putting incentives at risk. To improve working conditions, he suggested fixed working hours for gig workers to prevent excessively long workdays of 14 to 16 hours.