Gig workers outside a Quick Commerce company store in Connaught Place. File photo
Nemish Hemant, New Delhi. Manish (name changed), a gig worker delivering household goods in West Vinod Nagar in the early morning fog and cold, says that if he does not deliver the goods on time, consumers complain about him, due to which his rating falls and his ID can be closed by the company. If they do not meet the set target in a day, they do not even get incentives.
Manish does a private job and also works as a gig worker on a two-wheeler in his spare time. He says with disappointment that in the challenge of delivering goods on a two-wheeler within the stipulated time, traffic violations like breaking red lights, driving in the wrong direction, speeding etc. are common, due to which many gig workers get injured.
How many gig workers are there in Delhi?
According to an estimate, there are more than 60 thousand gig workers in Delhi, out of which 30 thousand are associated with quick commerce companies, which provide household and grocery items, milk, dishes and other services. Among gig workers, people who became unemployed due to job loss during the pandemic, students and poor people are prominent. Some disabled people and women have also made themselves self-reliant through this medium, but challenges remain in this path.
Now, after working for 12, 14 hours, one can earn up to one thousand rupees, whereas if the ID is closed, there is a fear of the money deposited in the account stopping and not getting further work. Meanwhile, giving a big relief to gig workers, the Central Government has asked e-commerce companies to remove the claim of delivery in 10 minutes. Which has been welcomed by the gig workers community.
Nirmal Gorana, national coordinator of the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU), says this is an important step towards ensuring the safety, health and dignity of gig and platform workers.
But right now the situation is not clear to a great extent. The question is, if companies start claiming delivery in 11 or 12 minutes instead of 10, then what rule will apply? Therefore, it is important to set a practical time limit for a certain distance while avoiding claims of timely delivery.
Quick commerce hurt retail business
Quick Commerce has hurt retail. Praveen Khandelwal, MP from Chandni Chowk and National General Secretary of Confederation of All India Traders (CAT), termed the government's decision as a victory for the traders and said that CAT has been warning the government about the dangerous and uncontrolled model for a long time.
In the monsoon session of Parliament, he had also moved a private motion against Quick Commerce. According to Ganga Bishan, president of Delhi Grocery Committee, at least 25 to 35 percent of the retail business has shifted to Quick Commerce.