Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal Explains Gig Work Model, Earnings, and 10‑Minute Delivery Concerns

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal defended the gig work model in a five‑point statement, highlighting rising earnings, flexible schedules, and welfare benefits for delivery partners. He clarified that the 10‑minute delivery promise does not pressure workers, as faster service is enabled by store proximity rather than unsafe driving. In 2025, Zomato spent over ₹100 crore on insurance and introduced additional support like rest days, tax help, pension access, and SOS services. His remarks follow criticism from public figures questioning gig worker conditions and the necessity of ultra‑fast deliveries.

Jan 3, 2026 0 5

Zomato’s Founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal issued a detailed five‑point statement on X addressing criticism of the gig work model and concerns around the company’s 10‑minute delivery promise. He clarified how the system operates, defended the flexibility it offers, and outlined welfare measures for delivery partners.

1. Earnings Growth Goyal revealed that in 2025, Zomato delivery partners earned an average of ₹102 per hour (excluding tips), compared to ₹92 in 2024 — a 10.9% year‑on‑year increase. He added that tips are fully passed on to workers, averaging ₹2.6 per hour in 2025.

2. Flexible Work, Not Overwork He emphasized that delivery partners are not bound by fixed schedules. On average, they worked 38 days in 2025, about seven hours per day. Only 2.3% worked more than 250 days. Partners choose when and where to log in, making gig work a secondary income option rather than a full‑time lock‑in.

3. 10‑Minute Delivery Promise Addressing safety concerns, Goyal explained that delivery partners are not shown countdown timers. Faster deliveries are possible because stores are located closer to customers, not because riders drive faster. He acknowledged that road safety remains a major challenge requiring shared responsibility across stakeholders.

4. Insurance and Welfare Benefits In 2025, Zomato and Blinkit spent over ₹100 crore on insurance for delivery partners. Coverage includes accident insurance up to ₹10 lakh, medical insurance worth ₹1 lakh plus OPD, loss of pay insurance up to ₹50,000, and maternity insurance up to ₹40,000.

5. Additional Support Beyond insurance, Zomato introduced initiatives such as two rest days per month for women partners, tax filing assistance (used by 95,000 partners), access to a gig‑variant of the National Pension Scheme (54,000 enrolled), and SOS services for emergencies.

Concluding his post, Goyal asked whether such benefits could be considered unfair for a part‑time, entry‑level job with no barriers to entry.

The statement comes amid growing debate over gig work and delivery timelines. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee had urged Goyal to share earnings data, while aviation executive Sanjiv Kapoor questioned the need for 10‑minute deliveries in India’s chaotic urban conditions.