Zomata boys demand reduced delivery target

It seems that all is not well with the Zomata delivery boys. A group of more than 500 delivery boys attached to the on-line food delivery portal on Monday resorted to agitation here raising voice against the company’s new policy. Alleging the company of exploiting them, the agitators demanded rollback of the new policy within next 24 hours.

The boys also threatened to intensify the agitation if their demands were not met. Besides, the agitators are planning to take up the matter with district administration in coming days. The agitation was held at Samvidhan Square under the banner of Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena party. By way of implementing the new policy, the company has reportedly increased the targets. Elaborating on the issues of the delivery boys, Nitin Tiwari, office-bearers of Yuva Sena, said, “The company has brought in new policy which asks the boys to deliver 18 orders every day from Monday to Thursday while 22 orders per day on from Friday to Sunday. These targets are too high and it is impossible to achieve it and eventually this results in loss of incentives,” he said.

Tiwari said that the company is making huge amount of money every day. “But is appears that the company is not willing to give due share to the delivery boy. moreover, the company is not showing no concern towards their health,” he said adding that many delivery boys have been suffering because of work load. A delivery boy, who preferred not to be quoted, said the company is compelling them to work for 20 to 22 hours in a day.

“To achieve the new target, one should work day and night. It is not feasible,” he said. As per the new policy, the boys have to deliver 18 orders per day from Monday to Thursday and 22 on weekends to qualify for incentive payouts which is Rs 575. It is important to note that no incentive is paid if one fails to complete the target. He further told The Hitavada that if they fail to earn incentives, their earning would reduce to just Rs 7,000 a month. For the past one and half years, the company is operating in the city. It has engaged boys who work on commission basis and also get weekly incentives. Apart from this, the delivery boys are supposed to ride their own bike and spend money on fuel. Despite repeated attempts, Vipul Sinha, Zomato City Manager, Nagpur, could not be contacted.