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Several Dunzo delivery partners have allegedly received messages from Dunzo today, threatening them with permanent suspension if they were found to be at a strike or in support of such an event. Dunzo’s alleged message has sparked outrage on social media, as the screenshots of the messages are being widely circulated.

The message, apparently sent a day before, reads, “It is to inform you that any ID found at the location of a strike will be permanently suspended. Please don’t be a part of a strike or support a strike either.”

The message, allegedly sent by Dunzo to delivery executives. (Source: IFAT)

In a press note, the Indian Federation Of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), an industry body supporting delivery executives, said, “Quick grocery delivery within 10-20 minutes by Dunzo and the marketing gimmicks used by the company are taking a serious toll on the delivery riders.”

The IFAT also pointed to a growing community of customers that were not happy with putting the lives of the delivery partners at risk for delivering groceries faster.

“Rather than threatening the delivery riders, Dunzo would do well to address issues of decent work conditions for their workers in areas such as minimum wage, health and safety and social security,” IFAT said, adding that it is willing to work with the quick commerce startup to sort the issues.

Talking with Inc42, a Dunzo spokesperson said, “Our delivery partners are very important to us and we want to make sure we do right by them. We are looking into the matter. If this message was sent by us, we apologise for the mistake and will take necessary corrective measures.”

Speaking with Inc42, Shaik Salauddin, general secretary, IFAT, said that the discussions about a pan-India action plan were internal to the organisation. “As soon as the Dunzo management heard of these internal discussions, they started sending out these messages to delivery partners,” Salauddin added.

According to Salauddin, the delivery partners at Dunzo are unhappy with the wages, the wage structure and the 10-minute delivery requirement. It is prudent to note here that, unlike Blinkit and Zepto, Dunzo does not promise a 10-minute delivery. The company does offer 19-20 minute delivery, per its website. 

In light of the messages, Salauddin said that IFAT will now work on another pan-India action plan. “We will hold a meeting next week to discuss the issue and formulate the action plan,” he added.

Dunzo’s alleged message comes just two days after Swiggy delivery executives in Bengaluru ended their strike, having demanded better wages and working conditions.

In recent times, the quick commerce model has come under fire for multiple reasons.

The biggest and most talked-about of these reasons has been how it can potentially be harmful to the delivery executives as they drive faster to fulfil the time limit set by the company. The matter has become so big that several MPs promised to raise the issue in Parliament, and yesterday (July 26), DMK MP Kanimozhi did just the same.

Thus, the move from Dunzo has the potential to antagonise the enablers of its business and the customers alike.

According to a NITI Aayog report, there were 7.7 Mn gig workers in 2021, with the number set to rise to 23.5 Mn by the end of 2029-30. With gig workers becoming more and more prominent in India’s workforce, startups (and all) will have to be more mindful of the treatment of their gig workers from now on.