Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal announced that the company and its quick-commerce arm Blinkit achieved their highest-ever single-day order volumes on New Year’s Eve, with operations remaining largely uninterrupted despite a nationwide strike called by gig workers.
Delivery partners associated with platforms including Zomato, Swiggy, and Amazon staged protests in multiple cities on December 31, calling for improved wages, enhanced safety measures, and social security benefits.
In a post on X, Goyal stated that Zomato and Blinkt delivered at a record pace, fulfilling more than 75 lakh orders for over 63 lakh customers. This was accomplished by over 4.5 lakh delivery partners across both platforms, without any extra incentives beyond the usual higher rates for New Year’s Eve.
He credited assistance from local police in managing a small number of disruptors and thanked authorities for effective coordination. Goyal also commended delivery partners who continued working despite reported intimidation, emphasizing their commitment to honest employment.
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Addressing broader concerns, Goyal argued that if the system were fundamentally unfair, it would not continually draw and retain large numbers of participants. He urged the public not to be influenced by agendas driven by vested interests.
Goyal described the gig economy as one of India’s most significant sources of organized employment, predicting its long-term benefits would emerge as delivery workers’ children, supported by stable earnings and access to education, join the workforce and drive national progress.
The protests were coordinated by groups such as the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) and the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union, which urged all gig and platform workers to halt services on December 31 to advocate for better rights, welfare, and dignity.
