Gig Workers Row: Following the strictness of the government and increasing concerns about the safety of delivery partners, quick commerce companies have started removing their branding related to ‘delivery in 10 minutes’. After Blinkit, now Zepto, Swiggy Instamart and Flipkart Minutes have also removed the promise of delivery of goods within a few minutes from their platforms.
The move follows concerns from the government and labor rights groups over the risks to suppliers’ safety, health and working conditions from rushing deliveries. Union Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, in a meeting held with stakeholders last week, had appealed to quick commerce companies to give priority to the safety of delivery partners.
Government is strict on 10 minute delivery
Mandaviya had suggested that strict deadlines for delivery of goods in very short time, especially commitments like ‘delivery in 10 minutes’ should be removed. Following this instruction from the government, Blinkit removed the promise of delivery within 10 minutes from its platform on Tuesday. The very next day, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart and Flipkart Minutes also changed their branding.
However, grocery delivery in 10 minutes is still mentioned on Tata Group-owned BigBasket’s app. Quick commerce business in the country has grown rapidly in the last few years, but along with it, questions have also been raised regarding increasing pressure on delivery partners, working conditions and road safety. On New Year’s Eve, gig workers (temporary workers) held a nationwide strike in protest against ’10 minute delivery’, in which issues related to health, safety and income of employees were prominently raised.
Gig workers welcomed
The Gig Workers Association has welcomed the decision by instant delivery platforms to remove the promise of ‘delivery in 10 minutes’. The association says that this step is an important initiative towards acknowledging the dangerous and unbearable pressure placed on delivery workers. The organization also alleged that in many cases workers were not being paid commensurate with the extra effort.
At present, a total of seven instant delivery platforms are active in the country including Blinkit (Eternal), Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, Jiomart, BigBasket, Amazon Now and Flipkart Minutes.
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