Gig Worker Protests Hit Zomato, Swiggy; Consumer Indifference May Limit Impact

• Gig workers for Zomato, Swiggy, Amazon, Flipkart protested on New Year's Eve across India, demanding fair pay, dignity, and safety despite new labor codes.
• Key grievances include pressure from 10-minute delivery, opaque algorithms affecting earnings, and lack of social security benefits like health insurance and pensions.
• Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal defended the gig model and made tweaks to incentives, while other companies remained largely silent during the protests.
• Experts debate the impact: some believe consumer indifference and India's large labor pool will shield companies, others warn of long-term reputational damage and escalating unrest.
• Delivery partners report falling base pay (from Rs 40-45 to Rs 15-20 per order) and unstable income, despite gross monthly earnings of Rs 20,000-30,000 for full-time work.

Why It Matters: Gig worker protests highlight deep-seated issues, but consumer demand for convenience may buffer companies.