As the festive season approaches, food delivery apps are bracing for a surge in demand, which in turn is driving up the need for gig workers. A report by The Economic Times suggests that platforms like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto could see a 40% increase in demand for delivery riders during this period, with projections estimating the hiring of 1-2 million gig workers.
According to Balasubramanian Anantha Narayanan, Senior Vice-President at manpower solutions firm TeamLease, the quick commerce sector currently employs around 300,000-400,000 riders. In contrast, the e-commerce and food delivery sectors boast a significantly larger workforce, with 4-5 million gig riders, two-thirds of who are engaged in e-commerce.
Narayanan notes that while quick commerce is steadily growing, it still represents a small fraction of the overall demand. The report highlights the extra income opportunities available to delivery workers during peak times. For instance, a Swiggy Instamart rider in Hyderabad recently earned an additional Rs 15 per order as a 'surge benefit' while a Blinkit worker in Delhi reported receiving an extra Rs 13 per order on festive days.
In addition to surge benefits, gig workers earn extra incentives by surpassing a certain number of completed orders or working a specified number of hours.
Shaik Salauddin, President of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers, emphasized the need for platforms to offer better pay, basic business assurances, and additional benefits during the festive season. "When everyone is home with their family during the festive season, the delivery worker is out there [sic] on the roads. The platforms should understand this and provide better benefits during this period," he said.
