ThePrint ThePrintPod: 'Tipping cannot replace fair pay for India’s delivery gig workers. It’s only moral comfort'
Jan 9, 2026
Exploring the harsh realities of India's delivery gig workers, the podcast highlights viral incidents that spark sympathy yet reveal systemic issues. It questions who is accountable for their plight and profiles activist Sheikh Salavatine's fight for fair treatment. Key worker demands include better pay and social security, while contrasting a CEO's claims about fair wages with grim worker data. Ultimately, it argues that while tipping is a kind gesture, it can't replace the platforms' responsibility to ensure fair compensation.
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Viral Stories That Trigger Guilt
- Karanjeet Kaur describes viral incidents that expose delivery workers' hardships, like earning ₹762 after a 15-hour shift and being forced to walk into complexes.
- These stories prompt public guilt and small acts of kindness but rarely spur scrutiny of platforms or lasting change.
Strikes Show Systemic Worker Demands
- Karanjeet Kaur highlights mass strikes where nearly 3 lakh workers protested across 22 cities to demand better pay and conditions.
- The movement's demands include restoring per-kilometer rates, ending 10-minute delivery mandates, and addressing shadow banning and social security coverage.
Social Security Rules Offer Partial Relief
- The Code on Social Security 2020 could extend benefits to gig workers, with draft rules proposing a 90-day annual work threshold for eligibility.
- This shows some regulatory movement but leaves other urgent operational demands of workers unaddressed.
