As New Year’s Eve approaches, thousands of delivery workers across India are preparing to log off their apps in protest. Riders and delivery partners working with food delivery, quick-commerce and e-commerce platforms have announced a nationwide strike on December 31, 2025, warning of widespread disruptions during one of the busiest days of the year.

The protest follows a similar walkout on December 25 and has been called by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union along with the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT). Workers from both metropolitan cities and large tier-2 towns are expected to participate, targeting platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon, Flipkart, Urban Company and others.

According to unions, the strike reflects growing anger over falling incomes, unstable work conditions and the increasing pressure created by app-driven delivery models. Workers say algorithms now control almost every aspect of their job from pay calculations and delivery targets to penalties and incentives with little transparency or accountability.

One of the strongest demands is the rollback of ultra-fast delivery promises, including 10-minute deliveries. Delivery partners argue that such targets push riders into unsafe situations on the road and prioritise speed over human safety.

Workers are demanding fair pay

Workers are also seeking fair and predictable pay structures, mandatory rest breaks, reasonable working hours, and protection from sudden ID deactivations that can instantly cut off their income. Other concerns include delayed payments, lack of proper safety gear, inadequate insurance coverage and weak in-app grievance systems.

Explaining the urgency of the strike, Shaik Salauddin, Founder President of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union and National General Secretary of IFAT, said the protest is “a collective call for justice, dignity, and accountability.” He added that the government “can no longer remain a silent spectator while platform companies profit at the cost of workers’ lives.”

With back-to-back strikes planned during the festive season, unions hope the pressure will force both companies and policymakers to take gig workers’ demands seriously. If participation is high, customers may experience slower deliveries or limited availability on December 31.