Zomato & Blinkit Hit Record New Year Sales Amidst National Gig Worker Strike

02 Jan 2026, 13:13 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

As the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2026, the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, Eternal, celebrated a historic milestone. The platforms processed an all-time high of 7.5 million orders in a single day, serving over 6.3 million customers. However, behind these “war room” celebrations, a complex labor struggle was unfolding on the streets.

While the company reported a “record-breaking” night, thousands of delivery partners—organized by unions like the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT) & Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU)—observed a nationwide strike.

The Corporate Safety Net vs. Worker Demands

The tension isn’t just about a total lack of benefits, but rather the adequacy and structure of those benefits in a high-pressure environment.

Insurance: Factually, Zomato and Blinkit provide a safety net that includes ₹10 lakh in accidental life insurance and up to ₹1 lakh in medical insurance. They also recently launched maternity insurance for female partners and a 24/7 SOS ambulance service operating in over 800 cities.
The “10-Minute” Pressure: Despite the insurance, unions argue the “10-minute” delivery model creates systemic risk. While CEO Deepinder Goyal maintains that speed is driven by store density and not rider speed, workers claim the “unseen” pressure of the algorithm leads to dangerous driving.
Earnings vs. Payouts: On New Year’s Eve, Zomato offered high peak-hour payouts of ₹120 to ₹150 per order. However, strikers argue these “festive spikes” mask a year-round decline in base pay, which some claim has dropped to as low as ₹9/km in certain zones.

Two Different Narratives

The aftermath of the New Year’s Eve surge has created a stark contrast in public messaging:

The Corporate View (Deepinder Goyal)	The Union View (IFAT/GIPSWU)
Operations were “unaffected”; 4.5 lakh partners chose “honest work.”	Over 1 lakh workers across 22 cities logged off.
Speed is a result of sophisticated infrastructure (dark stores).	Speed is a result of algorithmic pressure on the rider.
The system is fair because it continues to attract millions.	The system is exploitative because workers lack other options.
Insurance and SOS services are already provided.	Insurance is a “bare minimum”; we need pensions and PF.

The New 2026 Gig Rules

The timing of this strike is critical. As of January 2, 2026, the Indian government has proposed new draft rules under the Social Security Code.

Under these rules, gig workers who complete 90 days of work with a single platform (or 120 days across multiple) will qualify for government-backed social security, including life and disability cover. This transition marks a shift from company-led “perks” to a state-regulated “right,” a move that both the platforms and the unions are watching closely.