New Delhi: Zomato co-founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal has issued an comprehensive response to the growing criticism about wages, working conditions, and general the treatment given to delivery workers within Zomato’s gig workforce. In a lengthy five-point declaration that was posted on the social channels of his company, Goyal addressed core concerns voiced by labour unions, political leaders and other public figures following the national action calls from gig workers as well as the resulting public debate. Goyal’s statements aim to reiterate the company’s belief that the gig-work model is open, fair and advantageous to suppliers, and that a lot of criticism stems from misperceptions regarding how the business model works.
Goyal’s response comes amid increased awareness of the gig economy and increased investigation into the conditions that affect the delivery workers who use apps. Recently delivery employees from platforms like Zomato and its Blinkit, a quick-commerce platform Blinkit were invited to participate in strikes on the 25th of December and December 31st 2025. These actions aimed at highlighting problems including low wages and the absence of employment protections that are formalized and the safety risks associated with the speed of delivery.
Earnings and Compensation: Clarifying the Numbers
Responding directly to criticisms regarding poor pay, Goyal shared data indicating that the average hourly wage for Zomato delivery partners grew in 2025. As per the chief executive delivery drivers made on average Rs102 an hour, not including tips for customers as compared to Rs92 per hour in 2024, an increase of 10.9 percent.
Goyal further clarified that these figures reflect the total hours of logging in, which includes times where customers are waiting for orders instead of active in providing. In the scenario of an employee is working 10 hours a day for a month, their gross earnings could be as high as the amount of Rs26,500. After taking into account maintenance and fuel coststhat was estimated by the chief executive at around 20% Net monthly earnings could be as high as 21,000 rupees.
In the case of tips from customers, Goyal emphasised that delivery partners get 100% of tips offered by customers, without reductions in processing costs. Tips are immediately transferred and provide an additional revenue stream in addition to regular income. He said that even though tips rates in India are generally less than other markets, tips nevertheless make up a large portion of the total earnings.
Workload and the Gig Model: “Not Overworked”
One of the main points of Goyal’s defense was the claim that delivery partners aren’t constantly over-worked. He emphasized that the gig model is flexible and is designed to offer extra income and not replace full-time work. In the company’s CEO declaration that the average Zomato delivery person in 2025 only worked 38 days over the course of the year, logging an average of just seven hours of working logged in during each day. A small portionaround 2.3 percent was able to work more than 250 days during an entire calendar year.
Goyal stated that delivery companies are able to choose when they access and exit the platform, and also where in the city they wish to be based, stressing it is the fact that there are no fixed shifts or allocated areas is what distinguishes working on gigs from regular jobs. Goyal argued that claims for benefits that are full-time like provident fund contribution or guaranteed wages are not compatible with the basic structure of gig-based work.
Safety and Delivery Timelines
Safety concerns, especially when it comes to fast delivery promises, such as 10-minute delivery times, have were also a topic of debate in the public realm. Many critics have suggested that strict deadlines could force delivery companies to take dangerous risks while on the road. Goyal has rebutted this notion by stating that delivery companies do not have access to countdown times for customers, and they are not governed by enforced timers within their applications.
He also said that average delivery times and distances don’t necessarily mean unsafe speeds. Data from 2025 suggests that the typical Blinkit order required a distance of less than two kilometers and took about 8 minutes for completion, which equates with an average of about 16 km/h. On Zomato which has delivery times that are longer, the average speeds were about 21 km/hour. Goyal recognized that the safety of road users is an obligation shared by the delivery partners, the platforms customers, regulatory authorities and the customers.
Welfare Spending and Benefits
Goyal also brought attention to the welfare programs run through Zomato and Blinkit for delivery partners. The company invested more than 100 crores in 2025 for insurance coverage that covers accident insurance of up to 10 thousand per accident, health insurance including hospitalisation and benefits for outpatients Loss-of-pay protection and pregnant insurance. The insurance policies, according to Goyal they are covered through the business and are designed to offer a security protection for those who deliver.
In addition to insurance coverage, Goyal provided additional assistance services that are available to delivery partners. They include tax-filing support as well as access to a specific gig model of India’s National Pension System, and two paid rest days each month that are specifically designed for female partners. He said that more than tens of hundreds of partners who deliver have utilized the services. He pointed out the enrolment rates for pension schemes as well as tax filing assistance as indicators of the level of use. The company also provides the emergency SOS service in the event of incidents like accidents, vehicle breakdowns, or even theft.
Regulatory Perspective and Public Discourse
In his remarks, Goyal also touched on more general regulatory issues surrounding this gig economy. He emphasized that, from his perspective that the gig work model doesn’t require any additional regulations, but enjoys a level of flexibility in regulation which lets it absorb many more people into formal earning opportunities. According to his remarks excessive regulation may hinder from taking part and hinder the availability of income opportunities that are flexible for those who would be the most benefitted from them.
Goyal described the debate as one of options as well as the future of employment. He positioned this gig economy in a driver for job creation organized in India. He suggested that instead of eliminating the model, those involved should concentrate on incremental improvements and developments that increase the welfare of workers without compromising the inherent flexibility of gig work.
Context of Worker Actions and Political Responses
The argument formulated by Goyal is set against a background of a series of rallies from unions representing gig workers and the political response. In the Gig & Platform Services Workers Union (GIPSWU) -India’s first trade union national for gig workers governed by women demanded official acknowledgement of all delivery companies in the form of “workers,” minimum per-kilometre rates, legal protections for women’s safety and access to emergency and maternity leave. This is a sign of the ongoing discontent in certain sections of the gig economy with the current conditions and compensation structure.
The public debate has also branched out into the political realm and figures like MP Raghav Chadha describing gig economy practices as “guilt-free exploitation,” further intensifying discussion regarding the ethical and financial aspects that the concept has.
Despite protests there was no evidence that strikes across the country had a minimal effect on the continuity of service across a variety of regions and delivery companies operating and running at high levels in peak demand times. In reality, Zomato and Blinkit together announced record delivery numbers on the New Year’s Day. They handled more than 7.5 million orders despite the fact that strikes were in effect.
Ongoing Debate and Sector Dynamics
The debate surrounding gig workers in India can be seen as a reflection of global trends regarding platforms-based models of work and labour rights, as well as social protections and the changing characteristics of employment in modern economies. Industry leaders advocate for flexibility and potential, worker representatives and critics emphasize the importance of stability, protections and recognition that are in line with the economic contribution that gig-workers make. The debate between Zomato management and its critics is a perfect example of this complicated policy and socioeconomic environment, which highlights the ongoing discussions between all stakeholders about how best to keep in balance the needs of workers, innovation and sustainable business models.
