Zomato, the Indian food delivery giant, recently issued a statement in response to the ongoing protests by the company’s delivery partners against the Blinkit initiative. The Blinkit initiative, launched by Zomato earlier this year, aims to reduce the delivery time by incentivizing the delivery partners to complete their deliveries within a set time limit. However, the delivery partners have expressed their dissatisfaction with the initiative, claiming that it puts undue pressure on them and affects their earnings. In this article, we will delve deeper into the Blinkit initiative and the protests by the delivery partners.
The Blinkit Initiative:
The Blinkit initiative, launched by Zomato in February 2021, aims to incentivize delivery partners to complete their deliveries within a set time limit. Under the initiative, the delivery partners are given a bonus of INR 30 for every order they deliver within 30 minutes. The bonus increases to INR 40 for deliveries completed within 20 minutes. The initiative was launched with the aim of reducing the delivery time and improving customer satisfaction. Zomato claims that the initiative has been successful in reducing the delivery time by up to 15%.
The Protests:
However, the delivery partners have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Blinkit initiative, claiming that it puts undue pressure on them and affects their earnings. The delivery partners have been protesting against the initiative since March 2021, demanding that Zomato withdraw the initiative and restore the previous payment structure. The protests have been organized by the Delivery Partners Association, which claims to represent over 2 lakh delivery partners across India.
Zomato’s Response:
In response to the protests, Zomato issued a statement on April 14, 2021, acknowledging the concerns raised by the delivery partners. Zomato stated that it had always been committed to the welfare of its delivery partners and that it would continue to work with them to address their concerns. Zomato also stated that it had introduced several measures to support its delivery partners during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as providing them with insurance coverage and financial assistance.
Zomato also clarified that the Blinkit initiative was not mandatory for the delivery partners and that they could opt-out of the initiative if they wished to. Zomato stated that the initiative was only aimed at incentivizing the delivery partners to deliver orders faster and that it did not affect their earnings.
The protests by the Zomato delivery partners against the Blinkit initiative highlight the challenges faced by the gig economy workers in India. While the Blinkit initiative has been successful in reducing the delivery time, it has also put undue pressure on the delivery partners and affected their earnings. Zomato’s response to the protests has been measured, with the company acknowledging the concerns raised by the delivery partners and stating that it would work with them to address their concerns. It remains to be seen how the protests will play out in the coming days and whether Zomato will make any changes to the Blinkit initiative.
