Gig workers accuse Zepto of exploitation; firm denies charges, cites insurance cover and incentives.
New Delhi: The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers' Union (TGPWU) has written to the state's department of labour against quick commerce platform Zepto's “exploitative practices”.
Zepto has refuted the accusations.
The union said: “The per-delivery rate has been drastically reduced, with workers earning as little as `10-`15 per order. There is no guaranteed minimum income despite long working hours. The short delivery deadlines are forcing workers to drive at unsafe speeds. The union said delivery partners faced arbitrary fines, ratings-based penalties, and account suspensions with no clear redressal mechanism.
It said workers were not provided ESI, PF, health insurance, or any form of accident coverage. The union said it has been holding a “peaceful” strike for four days at several store locations, but Zepto management had refused to engage with them.
Zepto, in a statement to PTI, said 97 per cent of the company's per-order cost went towards delivery partners.
“Delivery partners in Hyderabad earn Rs 100-Rs 120 per hour, and these earnings have remained consistent in recent weeks. Our payouts are transparent, with 2X incentives for peak summer shifts and complete flexibility to choose work hours. Allegations of low or inconsistent pay are simply untrue,” it said.
It also said it does not rush deliveries or penalise delays. Zepto acknowledged the strike and said it was “addressed swiftly”.
It said partners were covered with up to Rs 1 lakh in IPD insurance, free video consultations with doctors, and medicine discounts. “At our stores, riders can access shaded rest areas, clean restrooms, refreshments, and drinking water — no one is left searching for basic comfort or shelter, even during extreme weather,” Zepto added.
