Delivery Workers Strike Disrupts New Year Celebrations Nationwide

Updated on Dec - 31 - 2025, 08:19 AM

As cities across India prepared to welcome the New Year, an unexpected disruption dampened the festive mood. Delivery workers from major online platforms announced a nationwide strike on December 31, one of the busiest days for food, grocery, and quick-commerce services.

Workers chose to log out of delivery applications or stop work entirely to protest against declining earnings, unsafe working conditions, and unrealistic delivery expectations. The strike immediately impacted consumers who rely heavily on app-based deliveries for party food, groceries, and last-minute essentials.

New Year’s Eve is typically marked by a surge in orders, but the protest led to delays and cancellations, forcing many households to rethink their celebration plans. For some, the convenience they had come to depend on suddenly disappeared.

Behind the strike lies deeper frustration among gig workers. Many feel pressured by opaque algorithms, shrinking incentives, long working hours, and the absence of social security benefits. Safety has also become a major concern, especially with ultra-fast delivery promises that push riders to take risks on crowded roads.

For delivery platforms, the strike posed both operational and reputational challenges. Balancing customer expectations with worker welfare has become a pressing issue. Whether this protest leads to meaningful reforms remains uncertain, but it has undeniably drawn attention to the human cost behind convenience-driven services.