Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal has dismissed the recent gig workers’ strike as being influenced by a very small group of disruptive elements, claiming that the protest did not reflect the views of the vast majority of delivery partners.
Responding to strike calls that coincided with New Year’s Eve, Goyal stated that nearly 99.9% of Zomato and Blinkit delivery partners chose to continue working, ensuring that customer services remained largely uninterrupted. According to him, only about 0.1% individuals were involved in creating disturbances, including intimidating active workers and damaging delivery vehicles in certain locations.
Deliveries Continued Despite Strike Calls
Despite concerns around the strike, Zomato reported strong operational performance during one of the busiest days of the year. The company said that more than 4.5 lakh delivery partners fulfilled over 75 lakh orders, catering to approximately 63 lakh customers across the country.
Goyal emphasized that these figures clearly indicate that most delivery partners preferred to work rather than participate in protests. He also mentioned that local authorities stepped in where necessary to prevent disruptions and ensure the safety of working partners.
Company Defends Gig Work Model
Addressing broader criticism of the gig economy, Goyal pushed back against claims that delivery partners are widely exploited. While acknowledging that no system is perfect, he argued that continued participation, especially during peak demand periods, suggests that many workers find value and flexibility in platform-based work.
He added that Zomato remains open to improving policies but disagreed with narratives portraying gig platforms as inherently unfair.
Unions Disagree with Company’s View
Gig worker unions and labour groups have contested Zomato’s claims, asserting that the strike saw significant participation across multiple platforms. They maintain that the protest was aimed at demanding better pay structures, safer working conditions, social security benefits, and realistic delivery timelines.
The strike was part of a broader, nationwide movement involving workers from food delivery and quick-commerce companies, highlighting ongoing tensions between gig workers and platform operators.
Ongoing Debate Around Gig Economy
The incident has once again brought attention to the evolving nature of gig work in India. While companies point to data showing high workforce engagement, worker groups continue to raise concerns about long-term security and fairness.
As platform-based services continue to expand, discussions around regulation, worker protection, and sustainable business models are expected to intensify in the coming months.
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