Ground reality remains unchanged for delivery agents despite regulatory intervention
Following government intervention this week, major quick commerce platforms including Blinkit, Zepto, Zomato, and Swiggy have agreed to remove their “10-minute delivery” branding. However, gig workers across India’s delivery sector say the move provides little relief from the relentless pressure to work at unsafe speeds and accept minimal pay.
Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya directed the removal of the mandatory 10-minute delivery deadline on Monday, January 13, aiming to improve safety and working conditions for millions of gig workers. Yet delivery agents working in the national capital report that earnings remain contingent on meeting aggressive incentive targets, and the pressure to work quickly has not abated.
The Economics of Survival
Delivery agents face a precarious income structure with no fixed minimum wage. Payment per delivery ranges from ₹15 to ₹25, depending on the day and time, forcing workers to depend entirely on incentive-based earnings. According to gig workers interviewed for this report, a typical day requires 35 to 40 deliveries to earn between ₹1,200 and ₹1,600 after 15 hours of work.
“Our ratings and incentives are linked to how quickly and how many deliveries we make,” explained one 25-year-old delivery agent. Another worker described completing approximately 40 orders to qualify for just ₹440 in incentives—representing a ₹875 delivery threshold.
Incentives Drive the Speed Imperative
While companies maintain that no explicit obligation exists to complete deliveries within a fixed timeframe, workers say the incentive system creates an inescapable demand for rapid work. The structure forces delivery agents to take risks, including driving on the wrong side of roads, to maximize earnings.
The incentive framework itself is unstable and opaque, changing two to three times daily based on demand, weather conditions, and festival periods. Some workers reported receiving no incentive on slower days regardless of hours worked, while others only qualify for extra compensation after working approximately 15 hours.
“If I log in for three hours and there are fewer orders that day, I don’t get any incentive. There is no fixed salary,” one agent said.
Lack of Formal Communication
As of now, delivery workers have received no formal notification from their respective platforms regarding the removal of 10-minute delivery branding. Many remain sceptical that the change will meaningfully improve their circumstances.
“Even if this happens, very little will change for us,” said one delivery agent. “We still face the same pressure.”
Workers Push for Structural Reform
Gig workers have made clear that removing marketing language alone does not address systemic issues. Last year, delivery agents went on strike during the Christmas and New Year period, protesting unsafe working conditions, inadequate safety measures, and lack of guaranteed income protection in case of accidents.
Dharmendra Kumar, National President of the Amazon India Workers Union, acknowledged the government’s step but emphasized its limitations. “There is still no minimum wage, no insurance, and no security,” Kumar stated. “Workers are forced to work 10-12 hours a day in the lure of high ratings and incentives.”
Workers emphasized that meaningful change requires regulatory intervention on core issues: establishing minimum wage guarantees, providing comprehensive insurance coverage, ensuring transparent payment structures, and creating genuine security nets for workplace injuries.
“It’s good that our voices are being heard, but it’s not enough,” said one delivery partner. “Our fight will not end until a safe and fixed payment system is established.”
What’s Next
The government’s intervention marks an initial acknowledgment of gig worker concerns, but workers view it as only the beginning. While companies implement branding changes, the pressure remains for regulators to implement structural reforms that address the root causes of unsafe working conditions in India’s rapidly expanding quick commerce sector.
Leave a Reply