The strike has been called to protest declining earnings, lack of social security, and the growing pressure of unsafe “10-minute delivery” models. Gig worker unions say these ultra-fast delivery targets put delivery partners at serious risk of road accidents, while penalties for delays are imposed entirely on workers through algorithm-based systems.

The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) has submitted a 10-point charter of demands to the central government. Key demands include a minimum monthly income of ₹24,000 for delivery partners, ₹20 per kilometre for ride-hailing drivers, and legal recognition of gig workers as “employees” instead of “partners” so they fall under labour laws.

Other demands include health and accident insurance, an eight-hour work limit, an end to arbitrary ID blocking, transparency in algorithms, and a cap of 20 percent on platform commissions. Unions have urged Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to intervene, alleging that companies are prioritising profits over worker safety.

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