Business
‘If System Was Unfair…’: Deepinder Goyal Defends Gig Economy After Workers’ Strike
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Deepinder Goyal said the record deliveries were completed without any additional incentives for delivery partners
Deepinder Goyal said the gig economy has emerged as one of India’s largest organised job creation engines.
Delivery platform founder Deepinder Goyal defended India’s gig economy, arguing that a system that is fundamentally unfair would not be able to attract and retain large numbers of workers, after delivery partners’ unions held a nationwide strike on December 31.
Deepinder Goyal said that Zomato and its quick-commerce arm Blinkit clocked their highest-ever number of deliveries on New Year’s Eve, despite calls for work stoppages by sections of gig workers.
“One thought for everyone: if a system were fundamentally unfair, it would not consistently attract and retain so many people who choose to work within it,” Deepinder Goyal said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), cautioning against what he described as “narratives pushed by vested interests”.
Record Deliveries Despite Strike, Deepinder Goyal Says
Deepinder Goyal said that more than 4.5 lakh delivery partners across Zomato and Blinkit delivered over 75 lakh orders to more than 63 lakh customers in a single day- an all-time high for the platforms.
Deepinder Goyal said the record deliveries were completed without any additional incentives for delivery partners, adding that while New Year’s Eve typically sees higher incentives than normal days, this year was no different from previous New Year’s periods.
“Over 4.5 lakh delivery partners showed up for work,” he said, calling their participation significant and not negligible.
‘10-Minute Promise Not About Speeding’
In a follow-up post, Deepinder Goyal addressed concerns around Blinkit’s 10-minute delivery promise, pushing back against criticism that such timelines encourage unsafe driving.
“Our 10-minute delivery promise is enabled by the density of stores around your homes. It’s not enabled by asking delivery partners to drive fast,” he said.
Deepinder Goyal said delivery partners do not even see the promised delivery time on their apps.
“Delivery partners don’t even have a timer on their app to indicate what was the original time promised to the customer,” he added.
Explaining the process, he said orders are typically picked and packed within about 2.5 minutes, after which riders travel an average distance of under two kilometres in about eight minutes, translating to an average speed of around 15 kmph.
‘Hard To Imagine The Complexity’
Deepinder Goyal acknowledged public concern around safety, saying the criticism stems from a lack of understanding of how the system works.
“I understand why everybody thinks 10 minutes must be risking lives, because it is indeed hard to imagine the sheer complexity of the system design which enables quick deliveries,” he wrote.
He also urged sceptics to speak directly to delivery partners.
“If you’ve ever wanted to know why millions of Indians voluntarily take up platform work and sometimes even prefer it to regular jobs, just ask any rider partner when you get your next food or grocery order,” he said, adding, “You will be humbled by how rational and honest they will be with you.”
‘No System Is Perfect’
While defending the gig economy, Deepinder Goyal said platforms remain open to improvement.
“No system is perfect, and we are all for making it better than today,” he said, adding that the sector is “far from what it is being portrayed on social media by people who don’t understand how our system works and why”.
“If I were outside the system, I would also believe that gig workers are being exploited, but that’s not true,” he added.
Delhi, India, India
January 01, 2026, 20:08 IST
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Greggs launches chicken version of sausage and vegan rolls in ‘iconic trilogy’
Greggs is launching a chicken version of its customer favourite sausage and vegan rolls in a permanent addition to its menu.
The Chicken Roll – described by the high street baker as “seasoned chicken wrapped in layers of crisp, golden, glazed puff pastry” contains 305 calories and will cost £1.35 when it goes on sale on Thursday.
It follows the Sausage Roll and the pork free Vegan Roll.
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Visitors will be able to pair their three complimentary rolls with a free chicken-themed cocktail or mocktail.
A Greggs spokeswoman said: “They say the best things come in threes, and our iconic roll trilogy is no exception.
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The health and wellness brand said it has identified a key business opportunity stemming from the sharp rise in Britons using GLP-1 treatments, such as Mounjaro and Wegovy.
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At least 1.6 million Britons have used weight loss jabs in the past year, according to research by University College London.
Applied Nutrition has reported strong growth, driven by targeting new customer opportunities and diversifying its sales channels, including expansion into UK retail stores.
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Applied Nutrition said it still expects to meet revenue targets for the year of around £140 million.
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Business
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Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Mehmet Oz speaks during an event sponsored by the Action for Progress Coalition, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., U.S., Feb. 2, 2026.
Al Drago | Reuters
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The government will increase average Medicare Advantage payments by 2.48%, or more than $13 billion, in 2027, according to a release from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The Trump administration in January proposed a payment rate hike of 0.09%, which pummeled shares of insurers that run those plans.
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The closely watched government payment rate determines how much insurers can charge for monthly premiums and plan benefits they offer and, ultimately, their profits.
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