The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) has been angered over the idea of 10 minutes food delivery by online food delivery app Zomato. The union has said that this pilot project started by Zomato is endangering the lives of delivery workers. Talking to news website Business Today, the union’s state president said that the instant food delivery model will expose gig workers to the risk of road accidents, fines from the police and law-abiding organizations. At the same time, the President of TGPWU said that with this speed, even robots do not work and then it is not just a matter of humans.
Voice has also been raised in Parliament: Raising his voice against this, Karti Chidambaram, son of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, demanded the government to make guidelines for delivery workers. During this in the Lok Sabha, he said that new opportunities arise through technology. Today we have something called the gig economy. In which there is a gig worker. Gig workers have an unconventional relationship with their employer because of technology. At present, there are about 15 million workers in the gig economy in India, whose number may increase to 50 million and 100 million in the coming years.
The companies that make this gig economy have their market valuation in billions. It has companies like Zomato, Swiggy, Uber and Ola. These companies promise their customers to get food and groceries delivered in 10 minutes. These deliveries are not done by the employees of the company but by the agents. Those who drive two wheelers. These delivery agents carry heavy weight in their rear seat and these deliveries are done on private vehicle due to which many times the insurance company does not give compensation to these people due to accidents. He further said that the government should regulate these delivery companies so that the employees can be saved from the unrealistic target of these delivery companies.
Zomato’s 10 Minute Delivery Plan: Online food delivery company Zomato has recently announced to start a pilot project of food delivery in 10 minutes. Since then, the company is facing opposition on social media as well as elsewhere.