India: Blinkit accused of blocking gig workers’ IDs in retaliation for protest over wages and forced work hours
"Workers allege pressure by Blinkit to unblock IDs", 29 April 2025
...
Gig workers of Zomato-owned Blinkit in Varanasi claimed that the company, on Monday, made them sign an agreement in order to have their IDs unblocked, allowing Blinkit to take any action if they stage any protest in the future. These workers were asked to sign the papers which had no company letterhead...
...
Workers who were initially attracted by the promise of higher earnings allege that the company abruptly reduced their pay.Initially, they were paid Rs 35 for deliveries up to 2.5 km which has been brought down to Rs 26. Workers have demanded an increase in the pay rate for deliveries up to 2.5 km to Rs 40. Santosh Jaiswal, who has been with one of Varanasi’s Blinkit stores since its inception, stated that he was initially attracted by the promise of higher earnings. ..The gig workers have also demanded a provision for shaded waiting areas with adequate seating, drinking water, and fans and an end to the practice of blocking worker IDs without due process..
The journalist approached Blinkit representatives with queries, but the Blinkit representative did not respond.