Delivery drivers can earn additional incentives by exceeding a certain number of completed orders or working a specific number of hours.
Demand for delivery drivers on fast-commerce platforms like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart and Zepto could increase by 40 per cent on peak days during the festive season. The overall delivery sector is expected to hire an additional 1-2 million delivery drivers during this period, according to a report by Economic times.
E-commerce and food delivery platforms are expected to recruit around 20 percent more gig delivery drivers for the peak festive season.
The report quoted Balasubramanian Anantha Narayanan, senior vice president of workforce solutions firm TeamLease, as saying that fast-track commerce currently employs around 300,000 to 400,000 delivery drivers, while the e-commerce and food delivery sectors have a much larger workforce of 4 to 5 million delivery drivers, with about two-thirds of them working in the e-commerce sector.
He said that fast-track trading currently represents a small portion of overall demand, but is growing rapidly.
The report cited executives who said that some of this growing demand will likely be met by delivery drivers who will take temporary jobs during the holiday season.
Riders hope for a stroke of luck during the festivities
Delivery workers expect a boost in earnings during the upcoming holiday season, driven by higher demand and bonuses during peak hours, according to the report.
According to deliverymen on fast-trading platforms in major cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad, they typically earn between Rs 20 and Rs 30 per order. This amount varies depending on the size of the order and the distance traveled. In addition to their earnings per order, deliverymen receive additional bonuses during peak demand periods, as well as incentives for completing a specific number of orders or hours worked. They can also earn financial rewards for referring recruits, especially during peak seasons.
Increased profits increase wages
The news report cited a Swiggy Instamart delivery worker in Hyderabad who received an extra Rs 15 per order as an “additional benefit” during peak hours recently. Meanwhile, a Blinkit delivery worker in Delhi mentioned that he earned an extra Rs 13 per order during peak hours during the recent festive days.
Additionally, delivery drivers can earn additional incentives by exceeding a certain number of completed orders or working a specific number of hours, according to the report.
The Instamart worker mentioned above earned Rs 1,200 for completing 22 orders recently, which is an average of Rs 54 per order. Meanwhile, a Blinkit worker in Delhi earned Rs 1,800 for 32 deliveries on the Rakhi festival, which is a total of Rs 56 per order.
Long hours, few rewards
However, earning that income requires “unrealistically grueling” work, with drivers required to work shifts of 12 to 14 hours, the report said. The report quotes Shaik Salauddin, president of the Indian App-Based Transport Workers Federation, as saying that platforms should offer workers basic business guarantees, pay increases and additional benefits.
“When everyone is at home with their families during the holidays, the delivery person is on the road. Platforms should understand this and offer better benefits during this period,” he said, according to the report.
First published: August 26, 2024 | 10:40 a.m. IS
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