- Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya asked platforms to drop 10-minute delivery claims
- Blinkit changed its tagline to 30,000 products delivered at your doorstep from 10-minute promise
- Gig workers protested for better pay, social security, and removal of timed delivery targets
E-commerce platforms like Blinkit have been asked to remove 10-minute delivery claims after Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met representatives of these platforms and told them to prioritise the safety of delivery partners.
According to government sources, the minister met executives of several aggregators, including Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit and Zepto, regarding concerns about delivery timelines.
The sources have said that Blinkit has revised its tagline from "10,000 plus products delivered in 10 minutes" to "30,000 plus products delivered at your doorstep".
The 10-minute delivery promise has been a subject of intense public debate, with many saying that it jeopardises the safety of delivery partners.
On December 25, unions of gig workers held a protest to demand better pay and social security benefits. They warned of a nationwide strike on December 31 if their demands were not met. Among their demands was the dropping of arbitrary time-based delivery targets.
In response to the protest call, Swiggy and Zomato hiked incentives for deliveries. The unions warned that they would launch a massive agitation if their demands were not met.
The Code on Social Security, 2020, says all workers, including gig and platform workers, are entitled to social security benefits. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Labour and Employment published draft rules for the four labour codes, which also bring gig workers on board for benefits such as minimum wage, health, occupational safety, and social security coverage. The government aims to roll out the entire package of four labour codes from April 1.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha, who has been amplifying the concerns of gig workers inside and outside the Parliament, welcomed the Centre's move.
"Satyamev Jayate. Together, we have won. I am deeply grateful to the Central Government for its timely, decisive and compassionate intervention in enforcing the removal of the '10-minute delivery' branding from quick-commerce platforms. This is a much-needed step because when '10 minutes' is printed on a rider's tshirt/jacket/ bag and a timer runs on the customer's screen, the pressure is real, constant, and dangerous. This step will help ensure safety of the delivery riders, and everyone who shares our roads," he said.
"Over the past months, I have spoken to hundreds of delivery partners. Many are overworked, underpaid and risking their life to fulfil an unrealistic promise. I thank every citizen who stood with us - you stood firmly on the side of human life, safety & dignity. And to every gig worker - you're not alone, we're all with you," Chadha added.
