Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha joined gig workers on January 13 to celebrate a key victory after the Central government directed food delivery and quick-commerce platforms to remove rigid “10-minute delivery” commitments. The move, aimed at enhancing the safety and dignity of delivery workers, follows sustained advocacy and public demonstrations by gig workers across India.
Chadha, who has been actively engaging with gig workers over the past weeks, posted a video on social media showing himself living a day in their shoes, riding on a two-wheeler and assisting with deliveries in the national capital. In the video, Chadha donned the jacket of a quick-commerce company, traveled on roads alongside a young delivery worker, and visited customer doorsteps to highlight the physical and mental demands faced by gig workers.
“Away from boardrooms, at the grassroots. I lived their day. Stay tuned!” Chadha wrote while sharing the video, underlining his firsthand experience with the challenges delivery partners encounter.
Earlier, on January 4, Chadha had highlighted the release of draft social security rules for gig workers, describing it as a “first step towards recognition, protection and dignity” for their work. He also extended support to a nationwide symbolic strike organized by Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), where thousands of delivery partners logged off apps or reduced work to protest against low pay, unsafe work conditions, and the pressure of unrealistic delivery timelines.
In his remarks on January 13, Chadha welcomed the government’s intervention, saying, “The credit for this outcome goes to you, as you collectively put in efforts for achieving this.” He emphasized the dangers associated with the 10-minute delivery promise, noting that it compelled riders to drive recklessly and risk their safety to meet unrealistic customer expectations. “The promise of 10-minute delivery adds mental stress and endangers both the riders and other road users,” Chadha said.
Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held discussions with Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy, and Zomato officials in Delhi, instructing them to remove rigid delivery deadlines from their platforms and promotional material to safeguard workers. Following the directive, Blinkit reportedly removed its 10-minute delivery claim, while all companies assured compliance in their advertisements and social media campaigns.
Chadha praised the government’s decision, describing it as a milestone in improving working conditions, safety, and dignity for gig workers. He reiterated that while no lawmaker opposes private enterprise, the exploitation of gig workers needed urgent redress, and the government’s action ensures delivery partners are not left vulnerable to unsafe work pressures.
The MP’s efforts reflect a broader push to integrate gig workers into mainstream labour protections while addressing occupational hazards arising from high-speed, time-bound delivery expectations.
