BLINKIT LABOUR RIGHT DELIVERY CHARGE REDUCED TO RS 12
- Company Overview
BLINKIT is a food delivery company that aims to provide a seamless and convenient experience for customers to order food from their favorite restaurants. Founded in [year] by [founder’s name], the company has grown rapidly and now operates in [number of cities/countries].
The company’s business model is based on partnering with restaurants to offer their menu items on the BLINKIT platform. Customers can browse through a variety of restaurants and cuisines, place orders, and track their delivery in real-time. BLINKIT’s delivery fleet ensures that orders are delivered quickly and efficiently.
One of the key features of BLINKIT is its user-friendly mobile app, which allows customers to easily place orders and track their delivery. The app also offers features such as personalized recommendations and easy reordering of previous orders.
To ensure the quality and consistency of the food, BLINKIT has established strict guidelines for its restaurant partners. The company works closely with its partners to ensure that they meet these standards and provides them with training and support to improve their operations.
BLINKIT’s business model has been successful in disrupting the traditional food delivery industry. By partnering directly with restaurants, the company is able to offer a wider variety of cuisines and menu items compared to traditional delivery services. The company also offers competitive pricing and promotions to attract and retain customers.
In addition to its core business of food delivery, BLINKIT has also expanded into other areas. The company has launched its own private label food products, such as sauces and seasonings, which are sold directly to customers through its app. BLINKIT has also experimented with other delivery services, such as grocery delivery and alcohol delivery.
However, like many other food delivery companies, BLINKIT has faced challenges related to worker classification and labor practices. The company has been criticized for classifying its delivery workers as independent contractors, which allows it to avoid providing benefits and protections that traditional employees receive. BLINKIT has responded to these criticisms by implementing new policies and benefits for its workers, such as insurance and bonuses.
Overall, BLINKIT has established itself as a major player in the food delivery industry. The company’s innovative business model and user-friendly app have attracted a loyal customer base, and its expansion into other delivery services shows that it is continuing to innovate and adapt to changing market conditions. However, the company must continue to address concerns related to worker classification and labor practices to ensure that it operates in a socially responsible manner.
- The Context
The gig economy employs millions of people. India had 77 lakh gig workers in 2020–21, and by 2029–30, there would be 2.35 crore (23.5 million) gig workers there, according to NITI Aayog research from 2022. The recent strike by Blinkit delivery drivers, a company owned by Zomato, has once again brought attention to the issues with the nation’s gig economy and the steps that must be taken to stop the mistreatment of these workers.
Following the introduction of Blinkit’s new pay structure for delivery executives, which dropped the minimum payment for each delivery from Rs 25 to Rs 15, the strikes began.
In the new system, incentives are also based on the distance walked to complete the order, a practise known as “effort-based pay.” As a result, Blinkit delivery executives would now make Rs 600–700 per day as opposed to the previous Rs 1,200 per day.
# What Are Gig Workers?
Gig workers, also known as independent contractors or freelancers, are individuals who are self-employed and work on a project or task basis, often for multiple clients or companies. These workers are not employed by the companies they work for, and instead work independently, using their skills and expertise to complete specific projects or tasks.
Gig work can take many different forms, including freelance writing, graphic design, web development, ride-sharing, food delivery, and more. The rise of gig work has been fueled in part by the growth of online marketplaces and platforms that connect workers with clients, making it easier for individuals to find work and for companies to find the talent they need. While gig work offers greater flexibility and autonomy, it can also come with uncertainty and instability, as gig workers often lack the benefits and protections afforded to traditional employees.
# Legal Umbrella
In accordance with the National Commission on Labor’s recommendation to consolidate central labour regulations, the Ministry of Labour and Employment produced the Code on Social Security, 2020, which for the first time brings gig workers into the scope of labour laws. According to section 2(35) of the Code, a “gig worker” is defined as “a person who performs work or participates in a work arrangement and earns from such activities outside of a traditional employer-employee relationship”.
The Code recognises “gig workers,” such as platform workers, but distinguishes them from employees.
The Code merely demands that the federal and state governments set up suitable social security programmes for gig workers, even though employees are entitled to perks such gratuities, employee compensation, insurance, provident funds, and maternity benefits. Health and maternity benefits, old age security, education, provident funds, accident benefits, life insurance, and disability insurance are just a few of the things that these schemes must cover.
