From ‘partners’ to ‘right ’ful staff: Kerala Gig workers call for status update

KOCHI: For 39-year-old Sharon (name changed), a Swiggy-Zomato delivery executive from Ernakulam, a delayed restaurant order, a traffic jam or an accident can mean lost earnings, penalties or paying out of pocket.

“We receive incentives only if we complete deliveries within a specific time. However, many restaurants delay orders. We cannot cancel, and end up losing the incentive,” said Sharon. “If we get stuck in traffic beyond the delivery time, alarms keep saying ‘You are delayed.’ The company knows it is raining and even introduces rain surge pricing. Yet the system keeps penalising us,” he said.