Raghav Chadha Urges Parliament to End 10-Minute Deliveries: The Human Cost Behind Quick Commerce

AAP leader Raghav Chadha has highlighted three critical issues affecting delivery workers that require immediate government attention.

During a parliamentary session on Friday, Aam Aadmi Party's Raghav Chadha called for an end to 10-minute delivery services offered by quick-commerce platforms. The Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab described this ultra-fast delivery trend as "cruel" to the delivery personnel who bear the burden of fulfilling these rapid orders.

Speaking during Parliament's Zero Hour, Chadha explained how this practice forces gig workers to take significant risks while struggling to meet unrealistic deadlines under immense pressure. He acknowledged the essential workforce driving modern India – from Zomato and Swiggy delivery riders to Ola and Uber drivers, and technicians working through platforms like Urban Company – describing them as the "invisible wheels of the Indian economy."

Chadha emphasized that while instant commerce has transformed consumer experiences, society must not overlook the human cost behind these conveniences.

"Every day, we tap a button on our mobile apps and receive notifications... But behind each notification stands a human being we rarely consider," the MP stated.

He drew a stark contrast between the billion-dollar valuations of these major companies and the dire working conditions of gig workers, asserting their situation has become "worse than a labourer." He urged Parliament to acknowledge the suffering of these unrecognized workers "who operate in all weather conditions, endangering their lives to deliver orders to doorsteps."

Chadha specifically outlined three major concerns – or 'pain points' – requiring government intervention:

The Constant Pressure of Timeliness

According to Chadha, the 10-minute delivery expectation creates the most significant hardship. He described how a delivery rider waiting at a traffic signal experiences perpetual anxiety: "If they're late, their rating will decrease, incentives will be reduced, they may be logged out of the app, and their ID could be blocked."

This pressure, he explained, directly contributes to dangerous behavior on roads: "To accomplish ten-minute deliveries, they exceed speed limits, disregard traffic signals, and put their lives at risk."

Dealing with Customer Dissatisfaction

The second issue involves verbal abuse from customers. Chadha noted that even slight delays of five to seven minutes often result in angry calls and scolding. Upon arrival, delivery personnel frequently face threats of complaints, and a single negative rating can devastate their earnings: "By assigning a one-star rating, customers effectively ruin the worker's entire month's performance and income."

Inadequate Compensation and Harsh Working Conditions

Chadha highlighted the severe working environment, including poor wages, high rates of illness, and exhausting twelve to fourteen-hour shifts.

"Whether in extreme heat, cold, or adverse weather... these individuals continue working without protective equipment, special allowances, or hazard pay," he stated. He further noted that workers lack basic security: "They receive neither stable employment nor humane working conditions, nor health or accident insurance."

Despite these challenges, Chadha observed, these workers maintain professionalism, saying, "They conceal their pain, job insecurity, and helplessness. When delivering orders, they smile and request, 'Thank you, Sir, please give me a five-star rating.'"

"I must emphasize that these individuals aren't machines; they're someone's father, husband, brother, or son. Parliament should consider their welfare, and this inhumane practice of ten-minute delivery must end," he concluded.