No More 10-Minute Delivery Promise: Govt.Intervenes, Blinkit Removes ‘10-Minute Delivery’ Claim
NEW DELHI: Prioritizing the safety of gig workers, Blinkit has removed its ‘10-minute delivery’ claim. Considering the safety of its gig workers, Blinkit has removed the “10-minute delivery” claim from its platform. The company’s new tagline is now, “30,000+ Products Delivered at Your Doorstep.” This change has come into effect today. The company took this step to ensure the safety of its delivery workers.
Labour Ministry Intervenes
E-commerce platforms like Blinkit have been asked to remove claims of 10-minute delivery. Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met with representatives of these platforms and asked them to prioritize the safety of their delivery partners. AAP MP Raghav Chadha, who has been raising concerns about gig workers, welcomed the central government’s move.
According to top sources, the minister met with officials from several aggregators, including Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, and Zepto, regarding concerns related to delivery timelines.
According to the Labour Ministry, after a meeting with major companies like Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy, and Zomato, Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya asked all platforms to remove the 10-minute delivery claims. He stated that this would reduce pressure on workers and enhance their safety. This move is a significant step taken by the government towards protecting the interests of employees working in the gig economy.
Change After Strike and Pressure
This move comes after a strike by gig workers on the eve of New Year 2025. The workers had stated that ultra-fast deliveries put them at risk in terms of health and safety. Following the strike and media reports, the companies reconsidered their delivery policy. Workers’ Rights Demanded
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha stated in Parliament that gig workers are facing “hardship and distress.” He demanded social security, fair wages, and respect for them. Experts say that the pressure of extremely fast deliveries often leads to unsafe working conditions, especially during adverse weather conditions like rain or cold. It is believed that following Blinkit’s decision, other platforms like Swiggy and Zepto will also revise their delivery claims. This move has been taken keeping in mind the safety of workers in the gig economy. According to reports, Blinkit has changed its tagline from “Over 10,000 products delivered in 10 minutes” to “Over 30,000 products delivered to your doorstep.”
The 10-minute delivery promise has been a serious subject of public debate, with many arguing that it jeopardizes the safety of delivery partners. On December 25, gig worker unions held protests demanding better wages and social security benefits. Their demands also included the elimination of arbitrary time-based delivery targets. In response to the protests, Swiggy and Zomato increased incentives for deliveries. The unions had warned that they would launch a large-scale movement if their demands were not met.
The Social Security Code, 2020 states that all employees, including gig and platform workers, are entitled to social security benefits. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Labour and Employment published draft rules for the four labour codes, which also include gig workers for benefits such as minimum wage, health, occupational safety, and social security coverage. The government aims to implement the entire package of four labour codes from April 1.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha, who has been raising the concerns of gig workers inside and outside Parliament, has welcomed this move by the central government. He said that when “10 minutes” is written on the rider’s T-shirt/jacket/bag and a timer is running on the customer’s screen, the pressure is real, constant, and dangerous. This step will help ensure the safety of delivery riders and everyone else who shares the roads with us.
