Gig Worker Strike Causes Brief Disruptions Before Platforms Regain Stability
A nationwide strike by gig and platform delivery workers on December 25 led to temporary, localised disruptions in food delivery services, while quick commerce operations remained largely resilient, according to industry stakeholders. The impact was most visible during peak meal hours in select micro-markets, particularly parts of Gurugram, before services stabilised by the evening.
The protest, called by gig worker unions across multiple states, coincided with a public holiday, amplifying concerns of prolonged service disruptions. However, platform executives and sellers indicated that the operational impact was contained and short-lived, with delivery metrics returning to normal levels later in the day.
“Operations across most food delivery and quick commerce markets remained largely business as usual. In parts of Gurugram, there were short-lived disruptions, but these were resolved during the day and service levels have since normalised,” said a person close to a large food delivery platform.
Food Delivery Sees Sharper Impact Than Quick Commerce
Food delivery services bore the brunt of the disruption, especially during lunch and dinner hours in a few high-density urban pockets. Restaurants in affected areas reported a sudden drop in order inflows, though the slowdown did not persist beyond a few hours.
“There was a sharp dip in orders for a few hours, particularly in Gurugram, but things began improving later in the evening as order flow gradually resumed,” said a restaurant owner operating in the city.
In contrast, quick commerce platforms demonstrated greater operational resilience. Sellers across multiple platforms said that while order volumes dipped marginally during the early part of the day, fulfilment stabilised by afternoon.
“Order volumes were slightly lower earlier in the day compared to the previous day. Things improved by the afternoon, and operations returned to normal,” said a seller who operates across several quick-commerce platforms.
Industry executives attributed the difference to the nature of quick commerce operations, which rely on shorter delivery radii, dense rider networks and inventory stored closer to consumers.
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Platforms Maintain Silence as Stakeholders Downplay Impact
Queries sent to major platforms including Eternal, Swiggy, Zepto, Flipkart and Amazon did not receive responses. However, people familiar with internal dashboards said delivery fulfilment rates improved steadily as the day progressed.
According to these executives, platforms were able to manage disruptions through:
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Dynamic incentive adjustments in select pockets
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Flexible shift reallocation
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Rapid rerouting of available delivery partners
They maintained that the strike did not materially affect overall daily order volumes at a national level.
Unions Claim Larger Participation and Wider Disruptions
Gig worker unions, however, painted a different picture of the strike’s scale and impact. In a joint statement, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers claimed that around 40,000 delivery workers participated in the nationwide flash strike and bike rallies.
According to the unions:
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50–60 percent of orders were delayed or disrupted
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Impact was strongest in Delhi, Karnataka, Hyderabad and Mumbai
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Platforms relied on third-party delivery partners and higher incentives
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Inactive delivery IDs were temporarily reactivated to manage demand
Union leaders said the strike was aimed at highlighting concerns around earnings volatility, incentive structures, social security coverage and algorithm-driven work allocation.
Industry stakeholders disputed these claims, reiterating that disruptions were limited in duration and geography.
Operations Normalise as Platforms Monitor Next Strike Call
By late evening on December 25, service levels had largely returned to normal across impacted locations. According to people tracking live platform data, December 26 operations are running as usual, with no abnormal delays reported.
Executives said platforms are now closely monitoring participation levels and operational readiness ahead of a second proposed strike on December 31, which unions have flagged as a larger action if demands remain unaddressed.
While the immediate impact of the December 25 strike was contained, the episode underscores growing friction within India’s gig economy, particularly as delivery platforms scale rapidly while navigating regulatory scrutiny and worker welfare debates.
For investors and industry observers, the key takeaway is that while platforms currently possess sufficient operational buffers to absorb short-term disruptions, recurring labour unrest could pose longer-term risks to service reliability, cost structures and regulatory engagement if left unresolved.
As one industry executive put it, “The system held up this time, but repeated flash strikes could force deeper conversations on sustainability — for both platforms and workers.”
