On New Year's Eve, Zomato, Swiggy Raise Payouts to Keep Food Deliveries Moving Amid Strike Calls

New Delhi: Zomato and Swiggy have announced higher payouts for delivery partners on New Year's Eve in a bid to keep orders moving smoothly during one of the busiest nights of the year. The move comes as unions have called for a nationwide strike by gig workers to protest low pay and tough working conditions.

What's Behind the Higher Payouts?

Both food delivery giants stepped up incentives for riders late on Wednesday.

• Zomato is offering around Rs 120-Rs 150 per order during peak hours between 6 pm and midnight on December 31. The company says delivery partners can earn up to Rs 3,000 during the day, depending on how many orders they take. Penalties for rejecting or cancelling orders have been waived for the day.
• Swiggy has also increased incentives for year-end work. It is advertising peak-hour earnings of up to Rs 2,000 for New Year’s Eve and up to Rs 10,000 across December 31 and January 1.

Company spokespeople described these payouts as a standard festive practice used during peak demand to ensure services run without disruption.

Why Are Workers Planning a Strike?

Unions representing delivery and platform workers have called for a nationwide strike on December 31, saying pay has fallen and work pressures have risen. 

The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers' Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) claim that lakhs of workers across India are expected to join. Their demands include better payouts, safer work conditions, and an end to overly tight delivery targets that they say make work unsafe. 

Unions also argue that their earlier protests, including a walkout on December 25, did not prompt meaningful talks with companies, prompting the expanded New Year strike call. 

Could Deliveries Still Be Affected?

Industry insiders say the strike could affect orders with delays, fewer riders available, or service gaps in food delivery and quick-commerce services on one of the busiest nights of the year. 

However, actual impact will depend on how many workers log off their apps and how companies manage rider availability during peak times.

What Workers Are Asking For?

Beyond higher pay, unions are pushing for broader changes:

• Transparent and fair pay structures
• Limits on high-pressure delivery targets
• Better safety measures, especially for night deliveries
• Recognition of gig workers’ rights under labour law

These issues have been highlighted repeatedly by workers and union leaders ahead of the year-end.