Comedian Kunal Kamra highlights exploitation of delivery partners in the booming quick commerce industry, demanding wage transparency from Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa.
January 1, 2025: In a sharp critique of the quick commerce industry, comedian Kunal Kamra has publicly questioned Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa about the wages earned by the platform’s delivery partners. The debate unfolded on social media as Dhindsa shared statistics about the record-breaking New Year’s Eve deliveries, which included 1.2 lakh packs of condoms and 45,000 bottles of water delivered across cities in India.
Kamra’s Call for Transparency
While Dhindsa highlighted the platform’s operational milestones, Kamra shifted the spotlight to the workers who made these deliveries possible. He asked: “Can you also enlighten us with data on the average wages you paid your ‘Delivery Partners’ in 2024…?”
Can you also enlighten us with data on the average wages you paid your “Delivery Partners” in 2024… https://t.co/v0yBlvobCQ
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) December 31, 2024
Kamra’s use of quotes around ‘Delivery Partners’ pointed to the ongoing debate around gig workers’ rights. Platforms like Blinkit, Zomato, and Swiggy classify their workforce as ‘partners’ rather than employees, which critics argue helps these companies avoid providing fair salaries, health insurance, and job security.
“Platform Owners Exploit Gig Workers”
In a follow-up post, Kamra criticised the exploitative model of quick commerce platforms, stating:
“While we enjoy the convenience of quick commerce, I’d like my first tweet of 2025 to be about the dark side. Platform owners exploit gig workers and they aren’t job creators. They are landlords without owning any land.”
While we enjoy the convenience of quick commerce I’d like my first tweet of 2025 to be about the dark side.
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) December 31, 2024
Platform owners exploit gig workers & they aren’t job creators.
They are landlords without owning any land.
They don’t have a bone of creativity or innovation all…
Kamra went on to accuse CEOs of these platforms of being “thugs using data as oil without paying for the oil fields,” suggesting that their financial success is built on underpaid and overworked delivery partners.
Public Support Grows
Kamra’s posts struck a chord with many social media users. Comments poured in supporting his stance:
- “Quick commerce thrives on exploiting workers while masking it with convenience for customers.”
- “Studies show that over 50% of gig workers report earning below minimum wage after accounting for expenses.”
The Bigger Picture
The incident has sparked renewed discussion about labor rights in the gig economy, with many calling for government intervention and stricter regulations to ensure fair wages and improved working conditions for delivery personnel.
As quick commerce continues to grow exponentially in India, Kamra’s bold statements serve as a reminder of the unseen costs behind the promise of 10-minute deliveries.
Tags: Quick Commerce, Kunal Kamra, Blinkit, Gig Workers, Delivery Partner Wages, Labor Rights, Albinder Dhindsa
