Author: Aadhya Vimal (Editor at Jurivine)

Why are the Gig workers striking against the 10-minute clock?

New Year a day when most apps like Blinkit, Swiggy and Zepto are anticipating multiple rings for new orders as the countdown to midnight gets closer. The delivery agents seem to have a different plan in mind. After their massive strike on Christmas Day, the workers are now striking again tonight.

This strike isn’t just about a pay increase, it’s about asking for their safety back. Their biggest target is the 10-minute delivery offered, which risks the life of the riders to keep up the claims made by these companies.

The Algorithm vs. The Human

To a customer, a 10-minute delivery is a miracle of modern tech. To a rider, it’s a high-stakes gamble with their life. The Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT) argues that these ultra-fast models force riders to speed, break traffic rules, and endure immense stress to satisfy an algorithm. This isn’t just about stress; it’s about Duty of Care. In legal terms, if a company sets a deadline that is physically impossible to meet safely, they may be breaching their duty to keep workers safe.

The Partner Trap

For years, companies have avoided paying benefits by labelling their employees as delivery partners or independent contractors. This label is a clever legal shield that saves companies billions but leaves the common workers with:
 No Minimum Wage: Pay fluctuates based on hidden formulas.
 No Job Security: A worker can be fired (their ID blocked) by an app without a single human conversation.
 No Safety Net: If a rider crashes while rushing a 10-minute grocery order, the company often bears zero legal responsibility.
 Also, this leads to the companies not having to pay for health insurance, give paid leaves , pensions and give out guaranteed minimum wages.

A Turning Point in Indian Law

The tide is slowly shifting. The Indian government recently notified the Code on Social Security (2020). For the first time, gig workers are officially recognised in Indian law.

Under this code, giants like Amazon and Zomato must contribute 1–2% of their annual turnover into a social security fund. This fund is meant to pay for health insurance and accident cover. However, the strikers argue that on paper isn’t enough, they need these protections to be active today, especially as rising fuel costs eat away at their take-home pay.

Digital Bullying and the Right to Organize

One of the most modern legal battles happening right now is over ID Blocking. During the Christmas strikes, IFAT reported that companies used intimidation by blocking the IDs of strike leaders.
It’s like if your office door is locked permanently because you complained about your salary. That is what ID blocking feels like. Strikers are arguing that this violates their Right to Livelihood under the Constitution. They are demanding that a human, not a computer, must be responsible for any decision to terminate a worker’s access to the platform.

The Bottom Line

The New Year’s Eve strike is a wake-up call. It’s a reminder that the glorious gig economy, the idea of being your own boss, often hides a reality of low pay and great danger.
As we move into 2026 the legal question isn’t whether we want 10-minute groceries, but whether we are willing to let the broken and exhausted bodies of workers be the price we pay for them. The battle for fair wages, physical safety, and digital dignity has only just begun.