“How Will We Make Ends Meet?”: Gig Workers Adjust as Quick Commerce Ends 10-Minute Delivery Promise

Following government intervention, quick commerce companies have withdrawn their promise of 10-minute deliveries, a move aimed at addressing safety concerns for gig workers. While the change eases pressure on workers’ personal safety, its impact on earnings remains uncertain.

Mixed Reactions Among Gig Workers

Some gig workers welcome the change, noting that it reduces the rush and potential risks on the road. However, many point out that their income largely depends on completing a high volume of deliveries. Until companies implement minimum wages, insurance, and other safety measures, workers’ financial pressures are unlikely to ease.

During Christmas and New Year’s Eve, gig workers staged strikes, citing the lack of guaranteed pay and low per-delivery rates. Many rely heavily on incentives, which can fluctuate multiple times a day, making earnings unpredictable.

Incentives Drive Risky Behavior

A 19-year-old delivery partner in West Delhi told Hindustan Times that earning ₹1,200–1,500 a day requires completing over 35 deliveries, often pushing them to work 15-hour days. To maximize incentives, some ride recklessly, risking their lives. Another 26-year-old explained that to earn a ₹440 incentive, he must generate ₹875 in revenue, completing around 40 deliveries a day, with variable pay depending on the delivery time.

Even though there is no strict requirement to deliver within a fixed timeframe, many incentives are tied to hitting specific delivery targets, keeping the pressure on workers.

A Safer Yet Uncertain Future

In Bangalore, workers report slightly less frantic conditions since companies dropped the 10-minute delivery claim. One delivery partner said, “Previously, every order felt like a race. Now there’s some relief. People think we are just delivery boys, but we have families waiting at home. Slowing down feels like our lives finally matter.”

Yet, concerns over income persist. A Mumbai worker noted, “I support safer delivery, but I worry about earnings. Incentives from faster deliveries helped me pay rent and EMIs. Every rupee counts. Now I don’t know if orders will decrease or if we’ll be silently pushed out.” Similarly, a delivery partner in Lucknow remarked, “From the heart, it’s good… safety will improve. But my mind says, what about money? If orders decrease, how will we run our households?”

The removal of the 10-minute delivery promise highlights the delicate balance between worker safety and financial sustainability in India’s rapidly growing gig economy.