The compensation and working conditions of gig workers in India have once again become a hot topic following a high-profile exchange on X (formerly Twitter) between Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal and popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.
The debate started when Goyal defended the current pay structure of gig workers, arguing that wages are dictated by market forces. He highlighted that competition between quick-commerce platforms is “brutal” and that, at present, the demand for delivery partners exceeds supply, pushing gig incomes higher than many entry-level formal jobs in India.
“Everyone who has a job wants to get paid more. But the demand for delivery partners currently exceeds supply, so pay is often better than many entry-level jobs,” Goyal wrote on X.
Rathee challenged Goyal to provide data-backed clarity, requesting the average hourly earnings of Zomato delivery partners to allow a meaningful comparison with formal sector jobs. In response, Goyal promised a detailed breakdown, stating:
“I will post a fact sheet tomorrow,” adding that it would clarify how gig compensation is structured.
Background and Context
This conversation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the gig economy in India. In recent weeks, delivery workers associated with e-commerce platforms staged protests across multiple cities, demanding better pay, safer working conditions, and social security benefits. Goyal has repeatedly defended the quick-commerce model, emphasizing that it provides livelihood opportunities to people from economically weaker sections who might otherwise remain unemployed.
Public Reaction
The online exchange has divided netizens. Some urged Goyal to avoid engaging with Rathee, while others questioned his claims about the gig economy.
“Whatever the reasons, let them be engaged in work; one worker is feeding a family, understand the impacts,” commented a user.
Others criticized the perceived exploitation of gig workers:
“If you give someone a job, it doesn’t give you the right to exploit them. Whether you are agreeing? Aap job de rhe hai, iska matlab nahi ki aap exploit kijiyega,” said one user.
Several netizens echoed Rathee’s call for transparency, insisting that hourly earnings data is more relevant than lengthy justifications.
The debate underscores the growing scrutiny of gig work in India, as the government, workers, and platforms navigate a complex landscape of wages, employment protections, and livelihood opportunities.
