Gig Workers Strike on December 31: Check How Hadtaal by Delivery Agents of Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, Amazon, Zepto, and Blinkit Might Affect New Year 2026 Celebrations
Delivery partners linked to companies such as Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon, and Flipkart are expected to stay offline during peak hours on New Year's Eve, raising the likelihood of delays and cancellations on one of the busiest days for online orders. Consumers are being advised not to rely entirely on app-based services for urgent or essential items on New Year’s Eve.
Mumbai, December 30: New Year 2026 celebrations across India could be affected as gig workers associated with major delivery and e-commerce platforms plan a nationwide strike on December 31. Delivery partners linked to companies such as Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon, and Flipkart are expected to stay offline during peak hours on New Year's Eve, raising the likelihood of delays and cancellations on one of the busiest days for online orders.
The strike has been called by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), with support from several regional collectives. According to the unions, participation is expected from workers across various states of India, such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi-NCR, West Bengal, and parts of Tamil Nadu. Will Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, Amazon, Zepto and Blinkit Be Available on December 31? Everything About the Nationwide Gig Workers’ Strike.
Gig Workers Strike on December 31
How New Year 2026 Celebrations Might Get Affected by Gig Workers' Strike on December 31
December 31 is typically the busiest day of the year for food delivery, grocery orders, and last-minute shopping. With a large number of delivery executives expected to log off, customers in major cities, including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, and Kolkata, may face slower service, limited availability, or cancelled orders. This could affect New Year’s Eve plans, particularly for households relying on last-minute food and grocery deliveries.
Shaik Salauddin, founder-president of TGPWU, said unions expect between 1 lakh and 1.5 lakh riders to participate. He said some workers plan to stop deliveries during lunch, dinner, and peak grocery ordering hours through flash strikes in different cities. Gig Workers Strike 2025 on December 25-31: Why Are Delivery Agents From Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Amazon and Flipkart Protesting? Which Services Might Be Affected?
Why Gig Workers Are Protesting
Unions say delivery partners are being asked to work longer hours while earnings continue to fall. They have also raised concerns over the lack of job security, social protection, and safety measures. The workers argue that despite being central to India’s app-based delivery ecosystem, their working conditions have not improved in line with growing demand.
What Customers Can Expect
Delivery platforms have begun advising users to place orders early or stock up in advance. However, service disruptions remain likely. Customers may also see higher prices due to surge or dynamic pricing, along with delivery times extending well beyond the usual quick-commerce timelines.
Consumers are being advised not to rely entirely on app-based services for urgent or essential items on New Year’s Eve. Buying essentials from nearby stores and placing orders well in advance may help avoid inconvenience if the strike sees widespread participation.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 30, 2025 10:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).