The recently introduced Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act specifies that an aggregator or the platform shall not terminate or deactivate a gig worker without giving valid reasons in writing and prior notice of fourteen days.
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Around 20 delivery executives from Bengaluru who work with online food delivery platforms have alleged that their IDs have been blocked by the aggregator companies after they participated in a nationwide strike on December 25.
Screenshots of a conversation between a delivery executive and what appeared to be the support team of a food delivery platform showed that the worker’s ID was terminated for being a “strike enabler.”
“We would like to inform you that you cannot go online due to strike enabler reason, and we are unable to activate your ID,” read that chat, which The Hindu has seen.
The recently introduced Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act specifies that an aggregator or the platform shall not terminate or deactivate a gig worker without giving valid reasons in writing and prior notice of fourteen days.
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Mahiboob Pasha, a delivery executive, was one among those who found their IDs blocked after the protest that called for the withdrawal of 10-minute delivery models, transparent wage structures and incentives, mandatory rest breaks, reasonable working hours, and end to arbitrary ID-blocking.
“On December 25, we held a strike near Sarjapur to oppose such exploitative practices of aggregator companies. Now, the IDs of around 20 members, including mine, have been blocked,” Mr. Pasha said, adding that he had raised a ticket with the company only to be told that the ID was blocked for participating in the strike.
Mr. Pasha claimed that his weekly payout, which would amount to ₹5,000, has been on hold.
“On the day of the strike, following police complaints filed by managers of aggregator companies, we were taken to the police station and held there for about six hours. Only after the union representatives came did they let us go. Since then, many of us have been getting calls, some of them claiming to be from police stations, threatening us to stay away from such activities,” he alleged.
Violation of the Act
The Karnataka App-Based Workers’ Union representatives submitted a letter regarding the ID-blocking to Labour Department officials. The letter pointed out that the ID-blocking goes against the rights guaranteed under the Indian Constitution and is illegal under the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act.
“We bring to your attention the screenshots (attached) which show a Zomato worker’s ID being deactivated, explicitly stating that this deactivation is for ‘strike enabler reasons.’ In addition, many gig workers have faced other forms of retaliation and threats for participating in any sort of collective action,” the letter stated.
One more strike planned
According to union leaders, on December 25, nearly 40,000 delivery workers across India participated in the strike. One more strike is planned to be held on December 31.
The Karnataka App-Based Workers’ Union president Mohammad Inayat Ali alleged that aggregator companies are resorting to intimidation tactics to scare workers away from asking for their basic rights.
“Instead of addressing the demands of the workers, the companies tried to break the strike by using third-party delivery agencies, extra incentive bribes, and other means. We will not accept unsafe ‘10-minute delivery’ models, arbitrary ID blocking, or denial of dignity and social security,” Mr. Ali said.
The Labour Department officials said that the matter has come to their notice and would be looking into the issue. The Hindu reached out to prominent food delivery platforms regarding the issue, but has not recieved a response.
Published – December 29, 2025 09:34 pm IST
