New Delhi, Jan 13 (NationPress) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday celebrated alongside gig workers, marking a significant win for their “safety, dignity, and work conditions”, as the government mandated food delivery and rapid-commerce platforms to eliminate strict “10-minute delivery” commitments.

In a video address, Chadha described this as a historic moment for gig workers, as the Central government has annulled the private companies’ “10-minute delivery” branding.

“This achievement is credited to all of you, as your collective efforts led to this change,” he noted, adding that the government responded to their advocacy despite the negligence from private companies.

Chadha expressed his gratitude towards the Central government for stepping in, highlighting the harsh realities associated with “10-minute delivery”.

“There is a genuine risk when a delivery rider is adorned with a bag or outfit promising ‘10-minute delivery’ or is racing against a customer's timer,” he stated.

He emphasized that the “10-minute delivery” promise exacerbates the mental strain on delivery workers, pushing them to drive recklessly to meet tight deadlines, thereby risking the safety of others on the road.

“Over the past few months, I have spoken to numerous gig delivery workers, and they consistently reported being undercompensated and overburdened, silently struggling under the weight of this unrealistic 10-minute delivery expectation,” added Chadha.

The AAP MP clarified that no parliamentary member opposes private enterprises, but they are concerned about the exploitation faced by gig workers.

“The decision taken by the Central government will not only safeguard gig workers’ well-being but will also serve as a landmark for enhancing their dignity and working conditions,” Chadha reassured, emphasizing that gig workers are not alone in their struggle but have the backing of the entire country.

Earlier, Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya urged major food delivery and rapid-commerce platforms to abandon strict ‘10-minute’ delivery time commitments, asserting that the safety of delivery partners must take precedence over speed.

Mandaviya held discussions with representatives from Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy, and Zomato in Delhi, advising them to eliminate rigid delivery deadlines from their platforms and promotional materials for the benefit of delivery workers’ safety.

Following this intervention, Blinkit has reportedly removed its “10-minute delivery” claim across all its branding platforms.

All companies assured the government that they would eliminate delivery-time commitments from their advertisements and social media channels.