If you've been planning to order food, groceries, or anything else online tonight, hold off. Your plans could be put on hold on the last day of the year. The reason is a massive nationwide strike by delivery workers, which has affected everything from Swiggy and Zomato to Amazon and Flipkart...

National Desk: If you've been planning to order food, groceries, or other items online tonight, hold off. Your plans could be thwarted on the last day of the year. The reason is a massive nationwide strike by delivery workers, which has affected services from Swiggy and Zomato to Amazon and Flipkart.

Why is today special?

On December 31st, when New Year's celebrations peak, online food delivery, quick commerce, and e-commerce platforms are flooded with orders. But on this busiest day, delivery workers have decided to abstain from work. Unions claim that more than 100,000 delivery partners have either logged out of the app or are performing very limited work.

Who is behind the strike?

The movement is being led by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT). They have also received support from several regional platform worker organizations from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi-NCR, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.

What are the demands of delivery workers?

Unions say that the Food Delivery and Quick Commerce Sector is growing rapidly, but the condition of those working on the ground has not improved.

• No better income
• No job security
• Unsafe working conditions

Workers allege that platform companies focus only on faster delivery and customer convenience, while the entire burden of increasing workload and decreasing income is put on the delivery partners.

'New Age Exploitation'

Union leaders claim that whenever gig workers speak out, they face intimidation—blocking IDs, threatening police complaints, or punishing them through algorithms. They argue that the gig economy cannot be built on exhausted workers' bodies and suppressed voices.

What is the impact on common people?

Delays, order cancellations, or even a complete lack of service are possible with food, groceries, or online shopping today. This means it's wise to have a Plan B ready before New Year's celebrations.

 PC:Punjab Kesari