![\"Gig](\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/india002-shutterstock-editorial-16219341b.jpg?c=original&q=w_1093,c_fill\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGig workers rest in New Delhi during a nationwide strike on Wednesday Hindustan Times\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One 41-year-old Swiggy delivery driver in the city of Hyderabad told CNN he makes a base rate of 5 rupees (less that 10 cents) per order and has the potential to earn more based on the number of orders and distance he travels. He works from 7pm to 5am everyday, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have to pay for our own fuel and bike maintenance,\u201d he said, asking for anonymity for fear of retribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then at least 50 rupees (56 cents) a day goes in paying for something to eat,\u201d he said. \u201cI didn\u2019t think this is what I would be doing in my 40s but what other choice do I have?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He became a delivery driver after his bookshop went out of business during the Covid-19 pandemic, and said he makes about 20,000 rupees per month ($222). More than half of that money goes toward his rent and the school fees for all five of his children, forcing his family to live paycheck to paycheck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CNN has contacted Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto and India\u2019s labor ministry for a response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deepender Goyal, the co-founder of Zomato, said both Zomato and Blinkit delivered \u201cat a record pace\u201d on Wednesday, \u201cunaffected by calls for strikes,\u201d in a post<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSupport from local law enforcement helped keep the small number of miscreants in check,\u201d he wrote, adding: \u201cif a system were fundamentally unfair, it would not consistently attract and retain so many people who choose to work within it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n