Zomato CEO Defends Gig Model Amid Worker Strikes

Delivery workers in India went on strike on December 25 and December 31, 2025, asking for better pay and working conditions.

Zomato's CEO, Deepinder Goyal, said that gig work makes the hard work of poor people visible to the rich, which can make people feel guilty.

He argued that making gig work invisible again is not the solution.

However, some people think that just being visible is not enough; workers also need rights and protections.

The government has rules to help gig workers, but more needs to be done to ensure their dignity and safety.

Workers and unions are asking for better algorithms, weather protection, and ways to solve problems.

The government also needs to make sure that companies treat workers fairly.

The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Association disputed Zomato's claims, saying that after costs, workers earn about ₹81 per hour.

They also mentioned that tips are very low and workers do not get paid leave or accident insurance.

Raghav Chadha supported the workers' strike, saying that workers asking for fair pay are not criminals and that the system needs to change.

Zomato sacks about 5,000 gig workers monthly due to fraud, while many others leave voluntarily.

Goyal defended the 10-minute delivery model, stating it is enabled by the density of stores, not pressure on delivery partners.