Gig Worker Rights

On December 25, 2024 and New Year's Eve 2025, over 200,000 delivery workers from Zomato, Swiggy, and Amazon struck across India, organized by IFAT. Workers demanded fair pay, an end to 10-minute delivery targets, and social security. A Hyderabad driver making 5 rupees (<10 cents) per order base rate works 7pm-5am daily. CEO Deepinder Goyal claimed deliveries were 'unaffected' but unions responded workers 'cannot afford to log out.'

New Jersey Department of Labor audit found Lyft improperly classified more than 100,000 drivers as independent contractors from 2014 to 2017, depriving them of unemployment insurance, family leave, and disability benefits. Settlement includes $10.8 million for unpaid unemployment, family leave, and disability taxes, plus $8.5 million in penalties and interest. Lyft initially contested findings in 2022, case shifted to Office of Administrative Law. In August 2025, days before first hearing date, Lyft withdrew request for hearing and paid remaining balance. Lyft spokesperson stated 'While we disagree with the NJDOL's findings, we will not be pursuing further challenges to the assessment.'

Between July 2024 and July 2025, hourly pay for Uber and Lyft drivers fell sharply in cities where Waymo operates: 6.9% in San Francisco and 5.3% in Austin. With Waymo providing 450,000 paid rides per week by December 2025 and targeting 1 million weekly by end of 2026, organized labor groups including the Teamsters, San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance, and Rideshare Drivers United have mobilized opposition. San Francisco taxi drivers holding medallions purchased since 2010 have sought debt relief assistance. Multiple cities including San Diego, Minneapolis, and Boston have seen formal opposition from councils and labor coalitions.

In May 2025, thousands of Grab drivers in Indonesia staged a 24-hour strike, shutting down services nationwide. Drivers demanded platform commission fees be reduced from 20% to 10%, clearer holiday pay rules, and better safety nets. Raden Igun Wicaksono, chairman of the driver's union Garda Indonesia, stated 'Many of our friends got into accidents on the road, died on the road because they have to chase their income.' Grab's stock price dropped 6.2% in June following the strike. The action demonstrated growing driver discontent with income pressure forcing unsafe working conditions.

NY Attorney General Letitia James announced a $16.75 million settlement with DoorDash for misleading consumers and delivery workers by using tips intended for Dashers to subsidize their guaranteed pay. Between May 2017 and September 2019, DoorDash used customer tips to offset the base pay it had already guaranteed to workers. Approximately 63,000 New York delivery workers benefited from this settlement.

Following nationwide strikes by 200,000+ delivery workers over extreme low wages and dangerous conditions, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal dismissed worker concerns, stating Zomato delivered 'at a record pace' and was 'unaffected by calls for strikes,' crediting 'local law enforcement' for 'keeping small number of miscreants in check.' Goyal argued 'if a system were fundamentally unfair, it would not consistently attract and retain so many people.' Union leader Shaik Salauddin responded: 'CEO of Zomato is trying to save himself, at an organizational level he has come under pressure...even after repeated threats from CEOs, gig workers continued peaceful strikes resulting in delays in 60% of orders.' In January 2026, Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya forced Zomato, Blinkit, Swiggy, and Zepto to remove 10-minute delivery pledges - the strikers' primary demand. Zomato also terminates nearly 5,000 gig workers monthly for 'fraud' while 150,000-200,000 leave voluntarily.

Dunzo, Google's first direct Indian startup investment (2017), shut down in January 2025 after catastrophic mismanagement left hundreds unpaid. By late 2024, Dunzo laid off 75%+ of staff (from 800+ to ~50 employees). Valuation crashed from peak to ₹300 crore as Reliance wrote off ₹1,645 crore ($200M) investment. Over 400 employees went unpaid through multiple rounds of delayed salaries. Naveen Meka (supply lead, laid off) wrote WhatsApp messages 'begging for unpaid wages so he could pay his children's school fees, but nothing came of it.' One employee laid off August 2024 is owed 250,000 rupees ($2,860) and has merchants reaching out on LinkedIn asking about back pay. Workers arriving for regular shifts were stopped at factory gates by security and informed of closure. Preceded by 2022 Bengaluru strike over incentive structure changes. Demonstrates pattern: rapid expansion funded by venture capital, exploitation of gig workers, catastrophic collapse leaving workers to bear consequences.

More than 200,000 delivery workers across Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, Amazon, Blinkit, and Flipkart struck on December 25, 2024 and December 31, 2025 (New Year's Eve). Workers demanded: (1) restoration of old payout system, (2) removal of 10-minute delivery model forcing unsafe speeds, (3) stopping ID deactivation without reason, (4) fixing algorithms that reduce incentives, and (5) social security including health insurance. Base pay as low as 5 rupees (10 cents) per order. Workers forced to complete 35-40 orders daily, working 16-hour days for 700 rupees ($7.70) after expenses. One delivery rider became accident victim every three days in Hyderabad; 17,000+ traffic violations recorded in single week as riders forced to run red lights. Strike caused 50-60% order delays on December 25. Union leader Shaik Salauddin: 'Delivery workers are being pushed to the breaking point by unsafe work models, falling incomes, and total absence of social protection.'

UK Employment Tribunal ruled in November 2024 that Bolt's drivers qualify as 'workers' rather than self-employed contractors, entitling them to minimum wage protections. The tribunal found drivers 'did work for Bolt' and rejected Bolt's 'bogus documentation designed to set up and protect the agency-based construct.' Lawyers estimate compensation could exceed £200 million for 15,000 claimants.

On July 25, 2024, the California Supreme Court unanimously upheld Proposition 22, allowing Uber and other gig companies to classify drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. Uber and other gig companies had spent $200 million to pass Prop 22 in 2020 - the most expensive ballot measure in California history.

Uber paid $148 million (part of $175 million combined with Lyft) as restitution to Massachusetts drivers who were underpaid by the company. Most drivers who completed trips for Uber between July 14, 2020, and July 2, 2024 in Massachusetts are entitled to payment. Settlement requires Uber to pay drivers minimum of $32.50 per hour (increased to $34.48 effective January 15, 2026) for time spent traveling to pick up riders and transporting them to their destination. Drivers also receive guaranteed paid sick leave, earning one hour of sick pay for every 30 hours worked, up to maximum of 40 hours per year. The settlement preserves the flexibility of independent contractor model and avoids potentially negative decision on driver classification.

Lyft paid $27 million as part of $175 million settlement (combined with Uber) resolving Attorney General's multi-year litigation originally filed in 2020. Settlement provides at least $140 million total in back pay to drivers who worked between July 14, 2020 and July 2, 2024. Requires minimum earnings floor of $32.50 per hour (now $34.48 as of January 15, 2026) for engaged time, adjusted annually by 3% or inflation rate. Also provides health insurance stipend for drivers working 15+ hours per week, occupational accident insurance up to $1 million, deactivation appeal rights, and earnings transparency. As result of settlement, Lyft withdrew support for ballot question modeled on California's Proposition 22 that would have codified independent contractor status.

In 2023, Will Shu received a £600,000 salary and £625,000 total package while Deliveroo posted a £245.6 million loss. At the AGM in May 2024, riders protested outside with banners reading 'Shame on Shu' chanting 'pay your riders like you should'. One rider of 5+ years said they'd seen 'steady real-term decrease year on year' calling conditions 'soul-destroying'. IWGB president said 'riders are dying chasing pennies whilst the CEO's prime concern is the safety of his £600,000 salary'.

Before a rider strike on February 2, 2024, Deliveroo emailed partner restaurants urging them to call police and 'request they clear individuals from the location' if riders were 'loitering' or engaging in 'anti-social behaviour.' A subsequent Valentine's Day strike was met by 15 officers and 4 police vans. IWGB union called the language 'deliberately inflammatory.'

In January 2024, 300 Grab delivery riders protested in Malaysia after base fare was cut from RM5 to RM4, with wages dropping from RM7 to around RM3.50. In August 2024, thousands of motorcycle taxi workers struck in Jakarta with Gojek workers. In September 2025, two Grab drivers in Indonesia were killed during nationwide protests, with CEO Anthony Tan visiting the families and providing 2 years of health coverage.

In December 2023, Grab Philippines reduced driver fare rates from P45 to P35 per order and per-kilometer rates from P10 to P7, prompting widespread protests. The National Union of Food Delivery Riders claimed the new fare matrix reduced drivers' income significantly. Drivers alleged that Grab suspended or terminated workers who joined protests against the fare cuts. The National Labor Relations Commission launched an investigation into the alleged illegal terminations. Senator Risa Hontiveros stated 'If the goal of this new fare matrix is to ease the burden of customers, it should not come at the expense of the platform's riders.' Grab denied indiscriminate sanctions, claiming 'proper assessment and due process.'

The UK Supreme Court ruled that Deliveroo riders are self-employed independent contractors who cannot be legally classified as 'workers' under UK trade union law. The ruling denied riders access to collective bargaining rights the IWGB union had sought since 2017. This despite research finding one-third of riders earned below minimum wage, with some working 80-hour weeks.

New York Attorney General secured $290 million from Uber (part of $328 million combined with Lyft) to settle allegations the company unlawfully withheld wages from over 100,000 drivers and failed to provide mandatory paid sick leave in New York state. Largest wage-theft settlement won by NY Attorney General. From 2014 to 2017, Uber deducted sales taxes and Black Car Fund fees from drivers' payments when those taxes and fees should have been paid by passengers. Settlement grants drivers one hour of sick pay for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year, starting February 29, 2024. Settlement does not change gig worker status in New York State - drivers remain classified as independent contractors.

Lyft paid $38 million as part of $328 million settlement (combined with Uber) in what Attorney General Letitia James called 'the single largest wage theft case in the history of New York State.' Lyft improperly took sales tax out of driver payments when cost should have been billed directly to passengers. Drivers who used Lyft Driver app between October 11, 2015 and July 31, 2017 eligible for payment. Settlement also provides paid sick leave: 1 hour per 30 worked, up to 56 hours per year at minimum $26 per hour (adjusted annually for inflation).

Internal documents obtained by Corporate Europe Observatory October 2023 showed Bolt's EU lobbyist Aurélien Pozzana drafted letter as if written by Estonian government asking Spanish EU Presidency to stick to weaker worker protections. Email to Estonian Deputy General showed meetings with Minister of Economy and Minister of Finance 'went well' and shared draft letter hoping 'Estonian Government could sign and encourage other allied Member States.' Letter written as if drafted by Estonian government, not by Bolt. Reporting caused public outcry in Estonia. Bolt has almost 50 employees working on regulations in lobbying capacity.