Blinkit Workers Allege Exploitation, Push for Reforms

Blinkit Workers Rally Against Wage Cuts, Poor Conditions

In India, gig workers form the backbone of the rapidly expanding digital economy, powering platforms like Blinkit, Swiggy, and Zomato to deliver goods and services with unprecedented speed. These workers, often young and from economically vulnerable backgrounds, navigate challenging urban landscapes, working long hours to meet the demands of quick-commerce platforms. Their labour enables companies to promise deliveries in minutes, fueling India’s gig economy, which, according to a 2022 NITI Aayog report, is projected to employ 23.5 million workers by 2029. However, the precarious nature of gig work—marked by low wages, lack of social security, and minimal legal protections—has sparked growing unrest, as seen in recent protests by Blinkit workers in Varanasi.

On April 26, 2025, approximately 150 Blinkit delivery workers in Shri Ram Colony, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, launched a strike to protest alleged labour rights violations, including low wages and unsafe working conditions. The workers claim that Blinkit, a Zomato-owned quick-commerce platform, responded by suspending the IDs of all 150 striking workers, effectively barring them from earning a livelihood. The workers’ grievances center on reduced incentive rates, inadequate earnings, and the company’s failure to provide basic amenities like shaded waiting areas or heat-appropriate uniforms.

Blinkit Workers Rally Against Wage Cuts, Poor Conditions

In India, gig workers form the backbone of the rapidly expanding digital economy, powering platforms like Blinkit, Swiggy, and Zomato to deliver goods and services with unprecedented speed. These workers, often young and from economically vulnerable backgrounds, navigate challenging urban landscapes, working long hours to meet the demands of quick-commerce platforms. Their labour enables companies to promise deliveries in minutes, fueling India’s gig economy, which, according to a 2022 NITI Aayog report, is projected to employ 23.5 million workers by 2029. However, the precarious nature of gig work—marked by low wages, lack of social security, and minimal legal protections—has sparked growing unrest, as seen in recent protests by Blinkit workers in Varanasi.

On April 26, 2025, approximately 150 Blinkit delivery workers in Shri Ram Colony, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, launched a strike to protest alleged labour rights violations, including low wages and unsafe working conditions. The workers claim that Blinkit, a Zomato-owned quick-commerce platform, responded by suspending the IDs of all 150 striking workers, effectively barring them from earning a livelihood. The workers’ grievances center on reduced incentive rates, inadequate earnings, and the company’s failure to provide basic amenities like shaded waiting areas or heat-appropriate uniforms.

Manish, a 25-year-old delivery rider, shared his struggles: “I was a milk vendor, but the COVID-19 pandemic took my livelihood. I worked for Swiggy, but the 10-kilometer commute was too much. For six months, I’ve worked 12 to 15 hours daily at Blinkit’s Shri Ram Colony store, earning about ₹300 a day to support my family.” A polytechnic diploma holder, Manish argued that after vehicle maintenance and fuel costs, his earnings are insufficient, describing the low wages as “tantamount to forced labour.” He appealed to the Uttar Pradesh government for intervention to address these exploitative practices.

The Gig and Platform Service Workers’ Union (GIPSWU) has rallied behind the workers, organising strikes to amplify their demands for fair treatment. The union accuses the company of exploiting its delivery riders to achieve its promise of 2-to-15-minute deliveries, forcing workers to endure extreme and unsafe conditions. “Blinkit prides itself on delivering goods in 2 to 15 minutes, made possible by the exploitation of delivery riders across the country who work in extreme and unsafe conditions,” the union stated.

Santosh Jaiswal, 45, a father of five and a rider at the Shri Ram Colony store since its opening, recounted how initial promises of higher earnings lured him to work for the company. “When the store opened, we earned ₹130 for 15 orders, ₹155 for 18 orders, and ₹555 for 32 orders, so many left other jobs to join,” Jaiswal said. However, he alleged that as the store’s workforce grew to over 150, incentive rates dropped over the past two months to ₹205 for 30 orders, ₹245 for 35 orders, ₹338 for 40 orders, and ₹448 for 43 orders. “This wage reduction, while the company’s service and profits have increased, is a sheer violation of human rights and exploitation,” he added.

Workers Protest Wage Cuts and ID Suspensions

The strike, which began on April 26, 2025, saw 150 Blinkit workers in Shri Ram Colony halt operations to demand better pay and working conditions. The GIPSWU alleges that instead of addressing these concerns, the company's management accused the workers of disrupting operations and blocked the IDs of all 150 participants, citing the strike as the reason. This punitive action has left workers unable to access the platform, effectively cutting off their income. The union condemned the ID suspensions as an attempt to suppress dissent and promised to escalate the protests until the workers’ demands are met.

Nirmal Gorana, National Coordinator of the GIPSWU, highlighted the systemic issues faced by the workers in Varanasi. He described how the Shri Ram Colony store, operational for six to seven months, initially attracted young workers with promises of decent earnings. “They hired a lot of youth in the area, giving them great promises. But after recruitment, they started reducing the rates of these workers,” Gorana said. He noted that workers toiling for 12 hours earn a meager ₹250 to ₹350. 

Gorana further criticised the company's practice of labeling workers as “partners” while denying them fair compensation or basic facilities. “The way the company calls them partners, do partners earn such less money? If they don’t give service, their ratings go down, and if ratings are down, their ID will be blocked. They blocked IDs of about 150 delivery partners because the workers were protesting,” he stated. He pointed out that workers were promised ₹35 per delivery within a 2.5-kilometer range but are now paid only ₹26, and many stores lack seating areas for riders.

The issue extends beyond Blinkit, according to Gorana, who noted similar grievances among workers at other delivery platforms. “It is not just about this company; there are many delivery companies doing this. Swiggy workers had also recently protested in Varanasi. The workers were only demanding a place with some shade,” he said. 

The striking workers have outlined a clear set of demands to address their grievances: reinstatement of the original incentive structure; an increase in pay for deliveries up to 2.5 kilometers from ₹26 to ₹40, compared to the previous ₹35; an end to mandatory work between 12 noon and 4 p.m. during extreme heat; provision of shaded waiting areas with seating, drinking water, and fans; cessation of arbitrary ID blocking without due process; recognition of their constitutional right to form unions and strike under Article 19, without being forced to sign affidavits relinquishing this right; immediate provision of cotton uniforms and heat protection measures; equitable increases in order service rates; overtime incentives at double the regular rate for shifts exceeding eight hours; establishment of a board to safeguard workers’ rights; and daily written or computerised records of work and earnings.

Union Plans Talks with Labour Minister Over Dispute

The GIPSWU alleges that on April 27, 2025, a Blinkit representative escalated tensions by threatening striking workers with police action and demanding they sign affidavits pledging never to strike again. Despite this, the union has stated that the workers remain steadfast in their resolve to continue the protest until their demands are met. 

Prabhat Pal, a 25-year-old married father of two, condemned the company's actions as unjust. “The sudden blocking of worker IDs is unfair, and we vow that the strike will continue. We have a legal and constitutional right to form unions and strike, so our protest is not illegal,” Pal stated. He warned that remaining silent would reduce workers to “slaves”. 

Manju Goyal, UP State Convenor of the GIPSWU, reaffirmed the legitimacy of the workers’ demands and called for their immediate resolution. “The workers’ demands are justified, and the company must address them promptly,” Goyal said. The union has raised the issue with Blinkit and plans to meet with the Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Labour Secretary on April 30, 2025. Goyal warned that failure to reinstate the workers’ IDs could trigger statewide protests, signaling a potential escalation of the conflict. The strike by the gig workers points to broader challenges facing India’s gig economy, where rapid growth has often come at the expense of workers’ rights.