In response to a series of posts by Zomat CEO Deepinder Goyal advocating the fast-paced business and gig model, the gig workers’ union has issued a scathing rebuttal to claims that Goyal is “trying to bail out” amid mounting pressure at the organizational level.
“Goyal’s response to the crisis through his posts on social media platform X has helped the common masses understand what is going on internally. But many of our questions still remain unanswered,” Shaik Salauddin, founder president of Telangana Gig & Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU), told ANI on Saturday.
He suggested that executives of food delivery platforms and gig workers sit together and discuss what went right and what went wrong to solve the problem. “Even after repeated threats from CEOs, concert workers have continued their peaceful strikes, resulting in 60% of orders being delayed,” he added.
The remarks come shortly after several couriers linked to e-commerce platforms staged protests in several cities demanding better wages, safer working conditions and social security benefits.
‘This is just a trailer’
Referring to labor strikes at Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Salauddin warned that “if the issues are not resolved, let me tell you that this was just a teaser, there will be more to come.”
“A 10-minute delivery is a mental and physical strain on all delivery people,” he argued, adding that the express delivery service should be scrapped immediately.
Read also | What Zomat CEO Deepinder Goyal has to say about concert workers’ strike
Notably, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal reiterated his stance after the alleged strike call by some gig workers brought the gig model into the limelight. Over the past three days, Goyal has shared a series of posts on X advocating gig work and the fast trade regime.
Goyal argued that these platforms provide livelihood opportunities to people from economically weaker sections who might otherwise be unemployed.
Goyal shares an overview of supplier revenue
On Thursday, January 2, Goyal shared, among other things, a “fact sheet” on the average hourly earnings of Zomato partner vendors. It claimed that gig workers’ earnings increased by around 10.9% year-over-year in 2025 to reach ₹102 compared with ₹92 in 2024.
Goyal shared this data on X (formerly Twitter) and further noted that if a partner works 10 hours a day for 26 days a month, gross earnings translate to approx. ₹26,500.
Read also | Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal reacts to allegations of AI-generated emotional post
The top official emphasized that contractors have the freedom to choose their work areas and check-in and check-out times. He also shared many other details regarding the gig work model, including the insurance structure, flexibility and partner security.
Company executives side with Goyal
Earlier, prominent investor and Naukri.com founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani weighed in on the gig workers’ debate, applauding Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal’s remarks on the one-day strike, while taking a swipe at those who claimed these workers were being exploited by fast-track companies.
