The protesters claimed that around 5,000 Swiggy delivery workers were on strike in the city since Monday, 14 November.
Published Nov 17, 2022 | 7:43 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 17, 2022 | 8:51 PM
Swiggy workers protest outside the company's zonal office near Marine drive Kochi.
The indefinite strike called by the Swiggy delivery workers in Kochi was on its fourth day on Thursday, 16 November.
The protesters are seeking basic demands like better remuneration, an increase in delivery rates, and proper distribution of incentives.
The workers called the strike after two rounds of failed discussions with the company management.
On Thursday, hundreds of delivery workers marched to Swiggy’s zonal office near Marine Drive in Kochi, protesting against the policies of the Swiggy management.
The strike has significantly hit food delivery through the app. The company’s consumers said delivery was disrupted.
To cross-check the claim, South First tried to order through the app. The app showed the message “Delivery partners in this area are busy” in multiple areas of the city.
In conversation with South First, the delivery agents gave various reasons that forced them to call the strike against the Swiggy management.
“We are on strike because they have reduced the rates that they provide for each delivery. The petrol prices now are not on a par with what they were when Swiggy started its operations here. It [the price of petrol] was ₹55-60. Now, the petrol prices have increased to ₹105,” delivery executive Frederick told South First.
He added that as of now, the Swiggy delivery executives are paid ₹20 for every 4 km. Citing the increase in petrol prices, they now demand at least ₹35 for a delivery in a 2.5-km radius.
Along with the delivery of food from restaurants, Swiggy also delivers groceries and other products through its store called InstaMart.
Siyad, a delivery person who operates in Edappally, said his health deteriorated after joining the job.
“I weighed 50 kg before I joined Swiggy delivery. Now I am just 40 kg. I carry on my bike products that ought to be carried in auto-rickshaws or carrier trucks,” he said.
“Often, apartments do not have the lift facility. As Swiggy offers ‘to the door’ delivery, we have to carry it on our own,” added Siyad.
He also says that when customers complain about an issue with the order, in most instances the delivery workers get calls from Swiggy customer executives who do not speak Malayalam, as the message is not properly communicated. The penalty is often charged to the delivery worker for not following directives.
Althaf, another delivery person who joined the march, said the remuneration was far too low compared to other unskilled jobs.
“If you do painting work in Kerala, you get ₹1,200-1,500 per day. Here, some days we work 18 hours. On an average, I get ₹900 per day. Of that, ₹400 is spent on petrol. The rest goes for food, as we can only eat from outside during work hours.”
The protesting delivery workers told South First that Swiggy was trying multiple means to crack down on the protests.
“To make us call off the strike, they are providing surge (increased delivery rates) to those who did not join us and are delivering the food. They are giving bonuses that are not provided even during Onam or Christmas season. They have even made a rule that the uniform is not mandatory, and are willing to pay for petrol even when the delivery person delivers products in a car,” said Vipin Vincent, a spokesperson of the protesting workers.
Vincent added that the executives had been working with meagre salaries all day and night irrespective of weather conditions. He said despite relentless services rendered by the delivery workers even during the Covid-19 pandemic, adequate wages were not being provided by their employers.
He also alleged that Swiggy was threatening the protesting workers with fake cases.
“We are battling between life and death. Until our demands are accepted, we will not step back from the struggle. We will go forward strongly, until the end,” said Vincent.
The protest in Kochi is led by the Food Online Delivery Workers Union (FODWU), which is an affiliate organisation of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has also extended its solidarity to the protest.
