According to a report by Inc42, delivery partners of Blinkit, a quick-commerce platform owned by Zomato, have gone on strike in Delhi-NCR over changes in their pay structure. The company has introduced a new payout structure for delivery partners under which they have to book their time slots and complete assigned targets to be paid on a per kilometre basis. The delivery partners say this will reduce their earnings. The strike is not the first instance of gig workers going on strike, as Swiggy and Dunzo have also faced several protests over payment issues in the past year. According to a report by government think tank NITI Aayog, the number of workers engaged in the gig economy in India would rise to 23.5 million by 2029-30 from 7.7 million workers in 2020-21. The quick-commerce space in India is highly competitive, and many players are vying for a larger market share. In addition to the players you mentioned, there are also other notable players such as Amazon Pantry, Flipkart Quick, and Grofers. The competition in the market has led to cash burn, with many players offering steep discounts and investing heavily in marketing and logistics to attract customers. As for JioMart, the decision to stop JioMart Express was reportedly due to the company’s focus on building its core grocery business.
The report by NITI Aayog highlights the growth potential of the gig economy in India and also emphasizes the need for social security benefits for gig workers. The report suggests that the government should consider policies such as universal health insurance, pension schemes, and maternity benefits to ensure the welfare of gig workers. It also calls for the establishment of a national database of gig workers to track their work conditions, earnings, and other relevant information.