Zomato log-off stir: Food chain stays snapped

By Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: For the second consecutive day, online food delivery was disrupted in many parts of Bengaluru with the executives working for Zomato continuing their agitation demanding better wages and change in work hours.

Hundreds of delivery executives launched the threeday log-off drive on Friday under the banner of United Food Delivery Partners’ Union, which is affiliated to the All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC).

The agitation hit customers and hoteliers in HSR Layout, Koramangala, BTM Layout, Banashankari and Jalahalli in the last two days. Leaders of the union expect more delivery executives to join them on the last day of the protest on Sunday.

The delivery executives complain that Zomato’s decision to reduce work hours has cut a deep whole in their pockets.

This is because of the introduction of the Gigs method that requires each executive to select a twohour work slot. “If I am allotted the 7 am to 9 am slot and receive no order, there will be no income for me. We are not allowed to login for long hours,’’ said a food delivery executive on condition of anonymity.

Srinivas G, who worked for Zomato for three-anda-half years in and around Koramangala, said he used to work between 12 to 24 hours a day and earn between Rs 1200 and Rs 1300. Apart from that, he used to earn decent incentives. “We used to get a Rs 75 incentive for delivering food worth Rs 250, Rs 100 for stuff worth Rs 300, Rs 150 for Rs 525, Rs 250 for Rs 700, Rs 325 for Rs 875 and Rs 400 for Rs 1050,” he said.

Besides, the agents used to earn money if the restaurant delayed the order. “We would get Rs 1 for waiting for one minute. If the delay was 10 minutes, the restaurant owner would pay Rs 10,’’ said Ranjith, a Zomato delivery executive. ‘Zomato threatens our members’

Vinay Sarathi, President of the United Food Delivery Partners’ Union said Zomato has refused to address the genuine demands of the delivery executives. “Insted, they have deployed bouncers to threaten our members,” he said.
Sarathi said Zomato has been forcing executives from neighbouring hubs to deliver food in the strike-hit areas. “Their sole aim is to undermine the agitation. We urge the government to take immediate measures to resolve the issue,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels’ Association executive committee member Krishna Raju has said that Zomato gets 26 percent revenue on delivering food to the customers while hoteliers’ margin is between 15 percent and 20 percent.

“I am of the opinion that food delivery executives deserve more incentives,’’ said Raju, who owns Nisarga Grand.