The Hidden Strain Behind India’s Gig Economy: Raghav Chadha Highlights Delivery Workers’ Real Challenges
India’s rapidly expanding gig economy has transformed how consumers access goods and services, but it has also created a demanding and often unforgiving environment for delivery professionals. Speaking on the subject, AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha drew national attention to three fundamental hardships faced by delivery workers—workplace pressure, unfair compensation practices, and lack of basic protections. His remarks resonate deeply at a time when millions depend on gig-based livelihoods. The issue goes beyond daily inconvenience; it reflects structural weaknesses in one of India’s fastest-growing labour segments. Addressing these pressures is critical for ensuring dignity, safety, and fairness in the digital economy.
A Growing Gig Workforce Under Stress
India’s gig economy has surged with the rise of quick-commerce, food delivery, and e-commerce platforms. While these services offer convenience to urban consumers, the behind-the-scenes reality for the delivery workforce is significantly more complex. Raghav Chadha, in a recent discussion, emphasized that delivery agents are often perceived merely as part of a logistics mechanism, when in fact they are individuals working under intense physical and mental stress.
Chadha argued that companies frequently overlook the human element in pursuit of faster deliveries and tighter service-level agreements. Many agents navigate congested traffic, unpredictable weather, and long working hours with limited institutional support—all in an attempt to meet unrealistic deadlines set by algorithms.
Chadha’s Three Major Concerns About Delivery Agents’ Working Conditions
1. Pressure-Driven Work Culture
According to Chadha, delivery agents function under a constant pressure cycle, primarily driven by strict timelines and electronic monitoring systems. Delivery windows—sometimes as short as 10 or 15 minutes—place immense strain on workers who must juggle customer expectations, traffic conditions, and platform demands simultaneously. This environment cultivates anxiety, fatigue, and the risk of road accidents, as riders often prioritise speed over safety to protect their ratings and earnings.
2. Discrepancies in Compensation
While platforms promote flexible income opportunities, Chadha highlighted that many riders face inconsistent earnings. Factors such as fluctuating incentives, distance-based adjustments, and penalties for rejected orders can significantly reduce daily pay. For instance, an advertised earning of Rs. X often becomes much lower after deductions for petrol, vehicle maintenance, and platform-imposed charges. This mismatch between projected income and actual take-home pay remains a persistent challenge for workers trying to sustain a livelihood.
3. Absence of Employee-Like Protections
Chadha noted that delivery agents are usually classified as “partners” rather than employees, allowing companies to offer fewer protections. This classification often denies riders access to essential benefits such as health insurance, accident coverage, paid leave, and secure working hours. As a result, thousands of workers operate in a vulnerable ecosystem where a single accident or illness can wipe out their income for weeks.
A Human-Centric View of Technology-Driven Work
Chadha’s statement, “They are not robots,” underscores the urgent need to recognize delivery workers as essential contributors to the modern economy. Despite being the backbone of app-based services, their experiences are often overshadowed by technological efficiency metrics. His comments highlight a broader debate about balancing platform profitability with humane working conditions.
Experts argue that improving rider welfare is not merely a moral responsibility but also a long-term economic necessity. Better protections, transparent pay systems, and realistic delivery targets could help reduce attrition and create a more sustainable workforce.
The Road Ahead: Reforming the Gig Economy
As India continues to digitize consumption patterns, policymakers and businesses face growing pressure to strengthen labour protections for gig workers. Discussions around social security frameworks, minimum pay standards, and accident insurance schemes are gaining traction nationwide.
Chadha’s intervention adds political weight to these concerns, signalling that the challenges of delivery agents are not isolated grievances but systemic issues requiring structural reforms.
