In response to a series of posts by Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal defending quick-commerce and gig model, a gig workers union issued a sharp rebuttal, alleging that Goyal is “trying to save himself” amid mounting pressure at an organizational level.
“Goyal’s response on the crisis through his posts on social media platform ANI on Saturday.
He proposed that the chief executives of the food delivery platforms and gig workers should sit together to discuss what is right and what went wrong to resolve the issue. “Even after the repeated threats from the CEOs, the gig workers continued the peaceful strikes resulting in delays in 60% of orders,” he added.
These remarks come shortly after several delivery workers linked to e-commerce platforms staged protests across several cities, demanding better pay, safer working conditions and social security benefits.
‘This is just a teaser’
Referring to the worker’s strikes on Christmas and New Year’s eve, Salauddin warned that “if the problems are not resolved, then let me tell you, this was just a teaser, more it yet to come.”
“10-minute delivery is a mental, and physical stress for all the delivery boys,” he claimed, adding that this quick delivery service should be removed immediately.
Notably, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has reiterated his stance following a purported strike call by certain gig workers, which has brought the gig-model into the spotlight. Over the past three days, Goyal has shared a series of posts on X defending gig work and quick commerce mode.
Goyal argued that these platforms provide livelihood opportunities to people from economically weaker sections, who otherwise could have been unemployed.
Goyal shares fact-sheet on the income of delivery partners
On Thursday, January 2, Goyal shared a “fact-sheet” about average hourly earnings of Zomato delivery partners, among other details. He claimed that the gig workers’ earnings have increased by approximately 10.9% year-on-year in 2025, reaching 102 compared to 92 in 2024.
Goyal shared this data on 26,500.
The top executive emphasized that the delivery partners have the freedom to choose their work areas and log-in and log-out time. He also shared a lot of other details regarding the gig work model, including insurance structure, flexibility and safety of partners.
Company leaders side with Goyal
Earlier, prominent investor and Naukri.com founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani weighed in on the gig workers’ debate, appreciating Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal’s remarks on the one-day strike, while taking an indirect swipe at those alleging that these workers had been exploited by quick commerce companies.
