Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Hyderabad Gig Workers Seek Fairer Pay Amid Rising Delivery Costs
Delivery workers in Hyderabad say they are earning less money while their work costs more.
They asked the Telangana government to help review how delivery apps pay them.
The workers’ union mentioned Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto and Blinkit.
Workers must pay for fuel, vehicle repairs, insurance, mobile data and loan payments themselves.
They said the number of orders and platform rules can change their earnings.
In May 2026, workers said their daily income had dropped from about Rs 800 to Rs 550-Rs 600 after expenses.
Some individual deliveries reportedly paid only Rs 11-Rs 20.
The union wants payments to reflect delivery time, distance and costs, with clearer rules for incentives, penalties and deductions.
The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union urged the state government to review delivery-platform payment rates.
The union named Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto and Blinkit among the platforms whose payment structures it wants examined.
Workers cited low payouts, higher fuel and maintenance costs, and fluctuating order volumes as financial pressures.
The union said daily earnings fell from about Rs 800 to Rs 550-Rs 600 after expenses in May 2026.
Workers reported individual delivery payments as low as Rs 11-Rs 20 and demanded greater payment transparency.
- Who
- The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union and delivery workers in Hyderabad.
- What
- Workers urged the Telangana government to review platform payment rates and create fairer, more transparent earnings systems.
- When
- The appeal was reported after workers raised the income issue in May 2026.
- Where
- Hyderabad, Telangana.
- Why
- Workers cited rising fuel and operating costs, low payouts, vehicle expenses and unstable order volumes.
- Union
- Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU)
- Platforms named
- Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto and Blinkit
- Reported daily income
- About Rs 800 previously, falling to Rs 550-Rs 600 after expenses
- Reported order payments
- As low as Rs 11-Rs 20 per delivery
- Requested payment factors
- Time, distance and expenses involved in each delivery
- Requested transparency
- Clearer calculations for payments, incentives, penalties and deductions
- Government officials approached
- Minister Vivek Venkatswamy and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy