In recent weeks, there has been a lot of discussion about gig workers’ roles in India’s rapidly expanding food delivery industry. After Deepinder Goyal, the founder and CEO of Zomato, appeared on Raj Shamani’s podcast, the spotlight shone brighter. Goyal addressed a number of issues, including those pertaining to gig workers’ pay, turnover, working conditions, and the company’s perspective on compensation in the larger gig economy debate.

We examine Goyal’s remarks, Zomato’s remuneration plan, and the significance of the debate in this blog, particularly in light of growing public, union, and regulatory scrutiny.

Related: Deepinder Goyal Addresses All Controversies Around Him At Raj Shamani Podcast

Goyal emphasized that gig work with Zomato is intended to be a flexible earning alternative that supports workers looking for additional income rather than a full-time job model with set times or guaranteed benefits.

According to him:

• Many delivery partners only work a few days a month and a few hours per session.
• The fundamental characteristics of flexible gig work would be at odds with traditional corporate perks like provident fund (PF) or guaranteed salary.

This viewpoint is fundamental to Zomato’s gig-worker strategy, which presents itself as a platform that provides freedom and choice over traditional employment. Critics contend that this structure would restrict employees’ access to social security and minimum wage guarantees.

The question of whether gig workers receive fair compensation has been a major source of disagreement. Goyal presented data demonstrating an increase in the average hourly wage, claiming that this indicates better working conditions.

According to statements attributed to him:

• In 2025, the average hourly earnings (excluding tips) for a Zomato delivery partner was ₹102.
• That figure was up from ₹92 in 2024 — approximately an 11% year-on-year increase.

Goyal added that delivery partners earn 100% of customer tips, with no processing cost deductions; this is an internal corporate perk.

He refuted assertions that worker compensation is stagnating or falling by characterizing the rising earnings trend as a “steady increase over a longer horizon.”

Goyal contextualized the hourly statistics with a monthly earning prediction to make it more relatable:

• If a partner worked 10 hours a day for 26 days, gross earnings could be around ₹26,500/month.
• After accounting for roughly 20% in fuel and maintenance costs, the net take-home pay would be around ₹21,000/month.

Although this makes sense in theory, detractors point out that the majority of gig workers do not consistently put in such lengthy hours, and many of them deal with expensive out-of-pocket costs, erratic demand, and a lack of guaranteed income—especially when compared to minimum wage standards in many Indian towns.

Goyal noted the significant turnover among gig workers during the podcast, which is directly related to views of workload and compensation.

He revealed:

• Zomato terminates nearly 5,000 delivery partners every month, primarily due to fraud or rule violations.
• In addition, between 150,000 and 200,000 workers leave voluntarily each month, often because they consider the work transient or supplementary rather than long-term employment.

Goyal emphasized his belief that gig labor is not meant to be a career with long-term rewards by explaining that many riders see it as a short stop-gap job.

Additionally, Goyal emphasized that Zomato has made investments in a number of welfare initiatives to assist its gig workers:

• The company spent over ₹100 crore on insurance coverage for delivery partners in 2025, including accident and medical coverage.
• Programs such as tax filing support and access to a gig-specific National Pension Scheme are being offered to help workers manage financial responsibilities.
• Women delivery partners are provided with two paid rest days per month.

These projects demonstrate that, in Goyal’s opinion, compensation includes support systems that enhance workers’ welfare in addition to hourly wages.

Despite Goyal’s optimistic portrayal, critics and labor groups contest a number of points:

• Many claim that ₹21,000/month net earnings — after costs — falls below reasonable living standards for full-time work in cities like Delhi or Mumbai.
• They argue that the hours and costs assumed in Goyal’s models don’t represent most workers’ actual experience.
• The lack of mandatory social security benefits, paid leave, or guaranteed wages are seen as weaknesses of the current gig model.

In India’s rapidly expanding gig economy, this discussion raises a more general question: How do we strike a balance between flexibility, equitable, long-term pay, and worker security?

Deepinder Goyal’s open comments on the Raj Shamani podcast and his later social media posts offer a complex perspective on gig worker compensation on Zomato. The audience’s reaction and union answers indicate that there is still a lot of disagreement over what constitutes fair remuneration in the gig economy, despite the company’s claims that its pay structure is flexible and improving.

One thing is certain, regardless of whether you view the gig model as a system that requires more protections or as a chance for flexible earnings: gig worker compensation on sites like Zomato has become a central topic in India’s national discourse on digital work and labor rights.