End of 10-Minute Delivery: A Step Towards Protecting Gig Workers’ Rights and Safety

 

End of 10-Minute Delivery: A Step Towards Protecting Gig Workers’ Rights and Safety

Recently, major quick-commerce and food delivery platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto, Zomato and Swiggy have decided to remove the “10-minute delivery” promise from their branding after an intervention by Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. This move follows a one-day nationwide strike by gig and platform workers on December 31, who raised concerns over rising accidents, health stress and unsafe working conditions caused by hyper-fast delivery timelines.

Background

The 10-minute delivery model emerged as part of India’s booming quick-commerce ecosystem, supported by dense networks of dark stores and warehouses. While companies argued that speed was achieved through logistics optimisation and not by pressurising workers, ground realities revealed otherwise. Delivery partners faced:

• Rash driving due to time pressure

• Increased accident risks

• Mental stress and fatigue

• Lack of social security and job stability

Recognising these concerns, the Labour Ministry urged companies to withdraw such branding in the interest of workers’ welfare. Blinkit has already changed its tagline from “10,000+ products delivered in 10 minutes” to “30,000+ products delivered at your doorstep.”

Constitutional and Legal Perspective

This development aligns with:

• Article 21 – Right to life with dignity, which includes safe working conditions

• Directive Principles (Articles 38, 39, 42) – Social and economic justice, humane conditions of work

• Code on Social Security, 2020 – Recognition of gig and platform workers and provision for welfare schemes

The decision reflects the State’s obligation to balance economic innovation with labour protection.

Significance for Gig Economy Governance

India has over 77 lakh gig workers, expected to grow rapidly. The removal of the 10-minute delivery model is significant because:

1. Worker Safety First – Shifts focus from consumer speed to human life and dignity.

2. Regulatory Assertion – Shows government’s proactive role in platform governance.

3. Ethical Capitalism – Reinforces that profit cannot override social responsibility.

4. Precedent for Platform Regulation – Strengthens demand for algorithmic transparency and fair work practices.

Political and Social Reactions

• Trade unions welcomed the move as a long-pending victory for worker rights.

• Parliamentarians across party lines supported the decision, highlighting rare political consensus on labour welfare.

• The intervention strengthens India’s image as a welfare-oriented digital economy.

Challenges Ahead

Despite branding changes, deeper issues remain:

• Absence of minimum wage guarantees

• Lack of health insurance and accident compensation

• Algorithmic penalties and incentive-based pressure

• Need for collective bargaining rights

Way Forward

For sustainable platform governance, India must:

• Operationalise the Social Security Fund for Gig Workers

• Enforce safety standards and delivery time regulations

• Mandate insurance, pension and grievance redressal mechanisms

• Ensure worker representation in policy formulation

Conclusion

The withdrawal of the 10-minute delivery promise marks a shift from “speed at any cost” to “development with dignity.” It reflects the evolving role of the Indian State as a regulator of the digital labour market, ensuring that technological progress does not come at the expense of human lives. For UPSC aspirants, this case beautifully links labour reforms, platform economy, social justice, and ethical governance, making it a high-value contemporary example for GS-II, GS-III and Essay.