NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH, JAN 13: Major delivery aggregators across India are dismantling their ultra-fast delivery models after the Union Government raised serious concerns over the safety and welfare of the gig workforce. The move marks a significant departure from the competitive “speed-at-all-costs” marketing strategy that has defined the quick commerce industry over the past year.
Following discussions with Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, companies like Zomato and Zepto are expected to follow Blinkit’s lead in removing the 10-minute delivery countdown from their interfaces. The minister noted that the primary objective is to ensure greater security and improved conditions for the people on the ground. This intervention aligns with the newly active Code on Social Security, which seeks to formalize the relationship between app-based platforms and their independent contractors.
The legislative push for these changes gained momentum as lawmakers voiced concerns about the physical toll on delivery partners. MP Raghav Chadha recently addressed the Rajya Sabha, where he mentioned that the current system often ignores the safety of the workers. He argued that the rapid growth of app-based businesses must be balanced with protections that guarantee a living wage and protection from workplace hazards.
The 2025 rollout of the social security code provides a structured framework for these protections, offering life and disability cover alongside old-age protection. Under the new rules, a National Social Security Board will oversee the distribution of benefits, ensuring that workers have access to a safety net that was previously unavailable to the informal sector.
“These workers need dignity, protection, and fair pay,” Chadha said while advocating for the new regulations. Industry analysts expect that while delivery times may become more fluid, the removal of the 10-minute deadline will likely reduce road accidents and mental stress among the delivery fleet.
