Protests by Swiggy delivery executives in Mumbai have entered their third day, causing disruptions in the operations of the food and grocery platform across various parts of the city.
The delivery workers are expressing their discontent over recent alterations to their payment structure and an extended delivery radius.
Swiggy’s delivery staff consists of gig workers who are compensated per order and are not considered full-time employees of the company.
Delivery Radius Extension Sparks Worker Discontent
Swiggy delivery executives claim that their delivery radius has been expanded from 4 kilometers to 6 kilometers, while their base pay remains fixed at Rs 20.
The overall payout for delivery executives comprises various components to account for factors such as distance traveled.
Videos circulating during the strike show protesting workers preventing other delivery staff from completing their orders, advocating for solidarity among riders.
Wider Impact on Food and Grocery Delivery Services
The strike, which initially began with members of the Rashtriya Karmachari Sena in Bandra, has garnered support from other groups, leading to sporadic protests across Mumbai.
With over 1,000 delivery partners participating in the protest, Swiggy’s payout structure has come under scrutiny, leading some customers to shift to alternative platforms like Zomato’s Blinkit for their food deliveries.
Operations for Swiggy’s rival, Zomato, were also disrupted on October 9, although not to the same extent.
Multi-Service Disruption Including Groceries
The strike’s impact extended beyond food deliveries, affecting Swiggy’s quick-commerce arm, Instamart, which struggled to function smoothly.
Consequently, even grocery deliveries were disrupted in areas such as Bandra, Dadar, and other adjoining locations in South Mumbai.
Swiggy’s Response and Customer Impact
Swiggy did not provide an official response to the situation at the time of publishing.
When questioned by customers on social media, Swiggy attributed service unavailability to operational constraints in the affected areas.
