Comedian Kunal Kamra has sparked a fresh debate on the treatment of gig workers in India’s booming quick commerce sector. Starting 2025 with a pointed critique, Kamra questioned Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa about the wages earned by the company’s delivery partners, bringing attention to their working conditions.
Quick commerce platforms like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto have revolutionized grocery and household item delivery, offering services within minutes in major Indian cities. However, Kamra argued that this convenience comes at the cost of exploiting gig workers with meager pay and excessive working hours.
The controversy unfolded when Dhindsa shared order statistics on New Year’s Eve, highlighting the high demand for party essentials. Kamra seized the moment to ask, “Can you also enlighten us with data on the average wages you paid your ‘Delivery Partners’ in 2024?” His use of quotation marks underscored a critique of these platforms labeling their workers as “partners” rather than employees, thereby avoiding responsibilities like fair wages, medical insurance, and employee benefits.
In a follow-up post, Kamra elaborated, calling platform owners exploitative and likening them to landlords profiting without owning property. “They exploit gig workers by offering a freedom they can’t afford while paying wages that don’t meet their aspirations,” he said, adding that such practices persist due to a lack of regulations.
Kamra’s comments ignited widespread support on social media. Many users criticized quick commerce companies for stretching delivery workers to their limits without just compensation. “10-minute delivery isn’t a milestone; it’s exploitation of humanity to satisfy consumer whims,” one user remarked.
The discussion also brought up studies showing that over 50% of gig workers earn below minimum wage after accounting for expenses, while platforms enjoy billion-dollar valuations. Kamra’s critique has reignited calls for stronger regulations to ensure fair treatment and better wages for gig workers in India’s rapidly growing quick commerce industry.
