Swiggy's delivery workers in Mumbai have been protesting for three consecutive days, disrupting the food and grocery platform's activities in different areas of Maharashtra's capital.
Services are either unavailable or significantly delayed due to the ongoing protests. Swiggy delivery workers are gig workers who receive payment per order and are not on the company's payroll. Swiggy's quick-commerce arm, Instamart was also unable to operate properly, according to Moneycontrol.
The protests began as a result of changes in the delivery workers' rate cards and an increase in delivery radius.
Over 1,000 Swiggy workers were protesting the payout changes, affecting operations in areas such as Bandra, Dadar and other adjoining regions, including some parts of South Mumbai.
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While the protests were initially started by workers part of the Rashtriya Karmachari Sena in Bandra, other groups also joined, resulting in sporadic protests across Mumbai, which is a crucial market for Swiggy.
According to the delivery executives, the company extended their delivery radius from 4 km to 6 km, but their base pay remained constant at Rs 20.
The final payout to delivery executives includes the base pay and other components that compensate for the distance travelled, among other factors.
In videos shared on social media, Swiggy workers could be seen taking out rallies on their motorcycles with placards in a bid to highlight their demands.
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The workers are on an indefinite strike as they demand for a higher pay. Delivery executives' earnings comprise of three units – payout paid on each order which depends on the distance travelled, incentive pay and pay provided when there is a surge.
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