Bengaluru Delivery Workers to Join Restaurant Strike Against Swiggy, Zomato on Aug 15

In a coordinated show of solidarity, delivery personnel working with food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy in Bengaluru have announced a strike on August 15, aligning with a protest called by restaurant owners against the same companies. The Karnataka App-based Workers Union, which represents a section of these gig workers, said the decision was taken to support the demands raised by the Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association (BBHA) and other restaurant bodies.

The strike comes after restaurant associations threatened to end partnerships with food delivery platforms from the same date, accusing them of arbitrary deductions, delayed payment settlements, and imposing unrelated advertising charges. The union has stated that these grievances mirror the issues faced by delivery workers, including opaque payout systems and high commission rates.

“Food delivery apps must be transparent and upfront about their payout and deduction systems and must end predatory commissions of up to 30%,” said a statement from the union. The workers have also echoed the hotels’ demand for dedicated human representatives from the delivery companies to manage partner relationships and provide support when issues arise.

Inayat Ali, president of the Karnataka App-based Workers Union, said, “Food delivery companies like Swiggy and Zomato are earning crores by exploiting everyone else in the ecosystem — hotels and restaurants, delivery workers, and even customers.” He called for workers to participate in the strike to press for fair practices.

The planned action adds to a growing pattern of protest among gig workers in India. Earlier, delivery and ride-hailing workers across the country went on strike on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve in 2025 to demand better working conditions, higher pay, and more transparent policies.

Industry analysts note that the current standoff highlights the underlying tensions in the food delivery ecosystem, where platforms, restaurants, and workers each have competing interests. While the platforms argue that their commissions cover technology, marketing, and logistics costs, restaurants and workers contend that the charges are disproportionate and inadequately explained.

The BBHA has maintained that many restaurants operate on thin margins and that the high commissions charged by platforms leave little room for profit. The association has also expressed concerns about the lack of a dispute resolution mechanism and the difficulty of reaching human support representatives.

On the workers’ side, the union has repeatedly called for a minimum floor wage, insurance coverage, and a grievance redressal system that is accessible and effective. They have also demanded that platforms share data on how payouts are calculated and ensure that any deductions are clearly disclosed.

Neither Zomato nor Swiggy has issued an official statement regarding the proposed strike as of the time of reporting. It remains to be seen whether the platforms will engage with the stakeholders to avoid disruption in services on August 15.

The development also raises questions about the broader regulatory framework for gig work in India, which remains largely informal. While some states have introduced welfare schemes for gig workers, there is no uniform national policy governing their rights, pay, or conditions of work.

For now, the unity between restaurant owners and delivery workers marks a rare instance of collective action across different segments of the food delivery supply chain. Whether it leads to meaningful dialogue or further conflict will depend on the response of the platforms concerned.