The Labour Ministry has taken decisive action against quick-commerce platforms, directing major companies to prioritize worker safety over rapid delivery promises. Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met with representatives from leading platforms on Tuesday, instructing them to remove the controversial 10-minute delivery time limits that have become a hallmark of the quick-commerce industry.

Ministry Directive on Delivery Time Limits

The government's intervention specifically targets prominent quick-commerce operators including Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, and Zepto. During the meeting, Minister Mandaviya emphasized that these platforms must prioritize the safety of their delivery partners over speed-based service commitments. The directive represents a significant shift in regulatory approach toward the rapidly growing quick-commerce sector.

Worker Strikes Highlight Industry Concerns

The ministry's action follows a series of coordinated strikes by gig workers across the country. In December 2024, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers' Union (TGPWU) and Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) organized strikes demanding better compensation and improved working conditions. The protests culminated on December 31, when the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union staged a nationwide strike to collectively raise demands concerning worker rights, welfare, and dignity across India's gig economy platforms.

New Social Security Framework

Concurrent with the delivery time directive, the Labour Ministry published new draft rules under the Social Security Code 2020 on December 31. These regulations establish a 90-day annual work threshold as the mandatory eligibility criteria for gig and platform workers to access social security benefits.

Engagement Calculation Guidelines

The ministry has provided detailed specifications for determining worker engagement:

Worker Classification and Coverage

The new framework clarifies that eligible gig and platform workers include all individuals engaged by aggregators through various business structures. This encompasses workers hired directly by the primary company, as well as those employed through associate companies, holding companies, subsidiary companies, limited liability partnerships, or third-party contractors. The comprehensive definition ensures broader coverage under the social security provisions.

Industry Impact and Implementation

The regulatory changes signal the government's commitment to balancing rapid service delivery with worker welfare in India's expanding gig economy. The elimination of 10-minute delivery promises may require platforms to restructure their operational models and marketing strategies, while the new social security framework provides a pathway for millions of gig workers to access previously unavailable benefits and protections.

Zomato co-founder Deepinder Goyal has issued a strong response to doctors and influencers who have been criticizing the company's upcoming 'Temple' health device. In a post on social media platform X, Goyal questioned the timing of such criticism for a product that remains unavailable to consumers.

Goyal's Response to Premature Criticism

Goyal directly addressed the critics in his social media post, stating: "You are advising people not to buy an 'unvalidated' device that isn't even available to order or pre-order yet. That's funny, tbh." The Zomato chief emphasized that such judgment appears premature given the product's current development status.

The entrepreneur outlined the current state of the Temple project, clarifying several key points about the device's availability and development timeline:

Call for Patience and Support

Goyal urged medical professionals and influencers to withhold their skepticism until the company provides official information about the device. "We will share all the science if and when we decide to sell Temple. You can judge and give all your advice at that moment. Until then, be curious, and cheer Indian startups?" he stated.

The Zomato founder acknowledged the value of expert skepticism while emphasizing the importance of timing, noting that such criticism would be more appropriate once official data becomes available.

About the Temple Device

The 'Temple' device was first introduced during Goyal's appearance on Raj Shamani's 'Figuring Out' podcast, where he was seen wearing the prototype. According to Goyal's previous explanations, the specialized health-tech device functions as a brain monitoring tool with specific capabilities:

• Measures blood flow in the brain
• Operates similar to a "miniaturised" MRI
• Designed to help users monitor brain health
• Linked to maintaining better health through improved brain blood flow

Goyal had previously explained that the device connects to the Gravity Aging Hypothesis, which proposes that gravity reduces blood flow to the brain, potentially contributing to the aging process. The entrepreneur suggested that activities aimed at keeping "brain flow up" could help individuals feel better and maintain healthier lives over time.

Industry Context

The exchange highlights the challenges faced by Indian startups when developing innovative health technology products. Goyal's response reflects the tension between maintaining scientific rigor and supporting domestic innovation in the competitive health-tech sector.

The Zomato co-founder's call for patience underscores the importance of allowing companies to complete their development processes and provide comprehensive data before facing public scrutiny. His emphasis on supporting Indian startups suggests a broader conversation about fostering innovation in the country's technology ecosystem.