Quick commerce startup Zepto’s CEO and cofounder Aadit Palicha met Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya amid the ongoing debate around gig workers’ rights, safety and working conditions. In a LinkedIn post, Palicha said the labour ministry has been supportive of the gig economy and hyperlocal commerce. He claimed that Zepto has created work opportunities for over 1.8 Lakh delivery partners and more than 40,000 people across stores, warehouses, trucking and operations. He also credited Zepto’s competitors like Swiggy, Rapido, Urban Company and Eternal for contributing to large-scale gig employment. Palicha said delivery partners are central to Zepto’s business and added that the company disburses “thousands of crores” in payouts to its workforce every year. The meeting comes at a time when the Union as well as state governments are closely examining working conditions of delivery executives in the quick commerce and food delivery sectors, including delivery timelines, road safety, and social security. The debate around gig work intensified after nationwide strikes by delivery partners on December 25 and December 31, which brought renewed attention to the issue. During the Winter Session of Parliament, AAP MP Raghav Chadha also called for a ban on 10-minute deliveries and tighter rules for app-based… Read MoreInc42 Media
