Formerly known as Grofers, Blinkit, a quick commerce company, was recently acquired by Zomato. In a cheeky social media post, Blinkit's CEO Albinder Dhindsa shared that over 1 lakh packets of condoms and 45,000 bottles of mineral water were being delivered for the New Year's Eve prep. However, standup comic Kunal Kamra raised important questions about the wages of the company's delivery partners. This incident brings attention to the exploitation of gig workers by platform owners in the gig economy.
The Exploitation of Gig Workers in the Indian E-commerce Industry
Background
The Indian e-commerce industry has witnessed rapid growth in recent years, driven by factors such as increased internet penetration and smartphone usage. This growth has led to the emergence of quick commerce companies, which offer fast delivery of groceries and other essential items to consumers. Blinkit, formerly known as Grofers, is one of the leading players in this market.
Controversy over Blinkit's New Year's Eve Sales
In a social media post, Blinkit's CEO Albinder Dhindsa revealed that the company had delivered over 1 lakh packets of condoms and 45,000 bottles of mineral water in preparation for New Year's Eve. While this post was intended to be lighthearted, it sparked a backlash from standup comic Kunal Kamra.
Kamra questioned the wages of Blinkit's delivery partners, who are often paid low wages and lack basic labor rights. He argued that the company was exploiting its workers while making huge profits from increased sales.
Exploitation of Gig Workers in the Gig Economy
Kamra's concerns highlight a broader issue of exploitation in the gig economy, which refers to the use of on-demand workers who are hired through platforms rather than as traditional employees. Gig workers typically face low wages, limited job security, and a lack of benefits and protections.
In India, the gig economy has grown rapidly in recent years, with companies such as Uber, Ola, Swiggy, and Zomato employing a large number of gig workers. While these companies provide flexibility and convenience for consumers, they have also been criticized for their treatment of workers.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. What is the gig economy? The gig economy refers to the use of on-demand workers who are hired through platforms rather than as traditional employees.
2. What are the concerns about the gig economy? Gig workers often face low wages, limited job security, and a lack of benefits and protections.
3. What is Blinkit's role in the gig economy? Blinkit is a quick commerce company that employs gig workers to deliver groceries and other essential items.
4. What was the controversy surrounding Blinkit's New Year's Eve sales? Standup comic Kunal Kamra questioned the wages of Blinkit's delivery partners after the company revealed that it had delivered a large number of condoms and mineral water in preparation for New Year's Eve.
5. What are the potential solutions to the exploitation of gig workers? Potential solutions include increasing wages, providing benefits, and creating a regulatory framework that protects gig workers' rights.
Conclusion
The controversy over Blinkit's New Year's Eve sales has brought attention to the exploitation of gig workers in the Indian e-commerce industry. This issue requires urgent attention from policymakers, companies, and consumers to ensure that gig workers are treated fairly and receive a living wage.
Uber's underperformance in the stock market may not reflect any weakness in the company's business fundamentals. Despite the fear surrounding the potential for robotaxis to disrupt the ride-sharing industry, Uber has the flexibility, financial stability, and adaptability to remain a significant player in the mobility industry. With a strong track record of revenue and profit growth, expanding profit margins, and impressive cash flow, Uber appears undervalued and worth considering as a buy for long-term investors.
A Bengaluru court has granted interim bail to Nikita Singhania, the wife of deceased techie Atul Subhash. Atul had passed away last month, following which Nikita was accused by his family of provoking him to commit suicide. However, the court has granted her bail, allowing for further investigation into the matter. This decision by the court has brought some relief to Nikita and her family amidst this tragedy.
Amazon's chief executive Andy Jassy has announced that all staff will be expected to return to working in the office full-time starting in January. This decision has sparked backlash as it goes against the company's previous hybrid work policy and adds pressure to already overwhelmed corporate staff. Jassy's concern for maintaining Amazon's intense start-up culture and avoiding bureaucratic layers has led to these changes, potentially resulting in job cuts. However, some employees are claiming unfair retaliation, opening up a dispute with labour officials.
With the release of the official notification for SBI PO 2024 expected soon, aspirants need to start preparing early and effectively manage their time to excel in the highly competitive exam. This article provides valuable time management tips for all three stages of the exam, helping candidates stay focused and increase their chances of success. From familiarizing yourself with the exam pattern to mastering each section with strategic time allocation, this guide is a must-read for dedicated SBI PO exam candidates.
The use of AI in the insurance industry has been gaining momentum, with a recent report showing that 29% of working hours in the industry can be automated by gen AI. However, this also raises concerns about maintaining personal connections with clients and using the technology responsibly. The threat of cyberattacks is also increasing, leading to growing costs for Canadian businesses. While AI has the potential to revolutionize tedious tasks and improve fraud detection, it also poses legal and privacy risks if not properly integrated. As a result, CISRO has issued guidelines for insurance intermediaries to help them understand and mitigate these risks when using AI.
DMart, India's leading supermarket chain, saw a surge of 12.33% in its stock following a 17.18% growth in standalone revenue in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the previous year. However, concerns have been raised over increased competition in the industry, with players like Flipkart and Amazon offering home delivery at lower prices. This has led to doubts over DMart's previously unquestioned dominance in terms of price advantage. Despite this, brokerage firms like CLSA continue to suggest an 'Outperform' rating on DMart, citing its strong store addition and same store sales growth.
As Bitcoin marks its 16th anniversary, it continues to rise in popularity among investors. In just 48 hours, 11,000 BTC were removed from exchanges, indicating a strong belief in the asset's long-term potential. This trend is further evidenced by the $1 billion worth of BTC accumulated by investors since the start of the year. The approval of the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy and 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs by the SEC shed light on the increasing interest from institutional investors, with net flows into spot Bitcoin ETFs reaching $4.63 billion in December alone. Bitcoin enthusiast Tom Lee predicts that the asset could reach $250,000 in 2025, fueled by a favorable regulatory landscape and increased interest from other nations' Bitcoin reserves. With a capped supply of 21 million coins and a current price of $96,800, all eyes are on Bitcoin as it approaches this significant psychological and financial milestone.
In this edition of Traders' Diary, the Zee Business research team provides exclusive research and investment ideas on 20 stocks to track for January 3, 2025. Analysts Pooja Tripathi and Kushal Gupta share their top stock picks, including Avati Feeds, PB Fintech, Bajaj Finance, Lupin, Bank of Baroda, JK Cement, Amber Enterprises, and V2 Retail. With targets and stop losses for each stock, this diary is a must-read for investors and traders.
The Chinese logistics sector has seen a significant increase in activity in the last month of 2024, with the market's prosperity index reaching its highest level. This is due to supportive policies and strong market dynamics. It is projected that the total value of the country's logistics market will exceed 360 trillion yuan, cementing China's position as the world's largest logistics market for the ninth consecutive year. Experts believe that the positive growth in the sector will continue, with noticeable improvements in production and business activities.
The Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa) has extended its working hours in order to provide better services to the public. The decision came after the recent instruction from His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, and is part of Sewa's comprehensive plan to enhance its services and develop its sectors. This move will help prevent issues of scarcity in the emirate and bring Sewa's services up to international standards.