Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal has pushed again towards claims of low pay for supply companions, saying common earnings on the platform rose to Rs 102 per hour in 2025, excluding suggestions.

In an in depth put up on X (previously Twitter), Goyal mentioned the common earnings per hour (EPH) elevated from Rs 92 in 2024, marking a year-on-year progress of about 10.9%.

He mentioned that earnings per hour have proven regular progress over an extended interval as effectively. Goyal mentioned most supply companions work just a few hours a day and some days a month. Nonetheless, if a accomplice have been to work 10 hours a day for 26 days a month, gross month-to-month earnings can be about Rs 26,500.

After accounting for gasoline and upkeep prices of round 20%, internet month-to-month earnings can be roughly Rs 21,000, he mentioned.

He additionally mentioned supply companions obtain 100% of buyer suggestions, with no deductions. In line with the put up, the common tip per hour on Zomato was Rs 2.6 in 2025, in comparison with Rs 2.4 in 2024. Suggestions are transferred immediately, and the corporate absorbs cost gateway processing prices.

Information under (1/5):

In 2025, common earnings per hour (EPH), excluding suggestions, for a supply accomplice on Zomato have been ₹102.
In 2024, this quantity was ₹92. That’s a ~10.9% year-on-year improve. Over an extended horizon additionally, EPH has proven regular progress.

Most supply companions work…

— Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) January 2, 2026

Goyal’s feedback come at a time when meals supply and fast commerce platforms are going through protests and strike calls by gig employee unions demanding greater pay, improved working situations and stronger social safety protections.

Earlier, supply staff related to Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon and Flipkart introduced a nationwide strike on December 31, 2025. The decision adopted an analogous nationwide protest held on Christmas Day, December 25, over the identical set of calls for.

The protests have been known as by the Telangana Gig and Platform Employees Union in coordination with the Indian Federation of App-Primarily based Transport Employees. The unions argued that gig staff face rising prices and revenue uncertainty, notably throughout peak demand durations.

Reviews mentioned that forward of New Yr’s Eve, Zomato, Swiggy and different platforms introduced greater payouts for supply companions as unions ready for protests that would disrupt companies throughout one of many busiest days of the 12 months.

In line with a PTI report, these incentive hikes have been a part of routine surge-pricing measures used throughout peak demand and have been aimed toward guaranteeing uninterrupted operations on the New Yr.

Regardless of the strike calls, Goyal mentioned on January 1 afternoon that Zomato and Blinkit delivered more than 75 lakh orders on New Year’s Eve, marking an all-time excessive for the platforms.

He mentioned over 4.5 lakh supply companions served greater than 63 lakh clients through the day, enabling the platforms to cross the 75 lakh order milestone “regardless of nationwide strike calls by sections of gig employee unions.”

Zomato and Blinkit delivered at a report tempo yesterday, unaffected by requires strikes that many people heard over the previous few days.

Assist from native regulation enforcement helped preserve the small variety of miscreants in test, enabling 4.5 lakh+ supply companions throughout each…

— Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) January 1, 2026

Netizens response

Whereas Deepinder Goyal continues to handle considerations over Blinkit’s 10-minute supply service and pay points confronted by gig staff, netizens have supplied sharply divided reactions. Lots of them agreed to Goyal’s view whereas others raised voice for systemic adjustments.

“Everybody screaming ‘GIG WORKERS ARE UNDERPAID!’ Generously tip your supply individual. Downside solved,” a consumer wrote.

“Information > slogans. Rs 100+ crore insurance coverage, accident + medical + maternity cowl, NPS entry, SOS help, rising hourly earnings — all paid by the platform. If that is ‘exploitation,’ identify one casual job in India providing extra with this flexibility. Narratives collapse when numbers present up,” one other wrote.

“Could also be it’s doable.. If supply accomplice work for 3–6 months and above, the issue will be solved by making them fairness accomplice, so incentives them. Each individual working for firm is an worker, If the corporate grows so do the workers,” a 3rd famous.

Gig work ≠ full employment

Gig staff are underpaid == Tip your supply man.

Equal pay == communism == actually unemployment.

Tip higher that is gig work not a level licensed talent work.

— Tanay🔳 (@TanayVasishtha) January 2, 2026

How can individuals contemplate this higher than different jobs? How are you going to say that earnings per hour are rising yearly, however as a substitute reducing yearly? TDS can be deducted individually at 7%. Which is on the market after submitting TDS after a 12 months. pic.twitter.com/svd3zC38Xl

— manoj rajbance9161 (@LRajbance72882) January 3, 2026

@deepigoyal

If an individual is working 10 hours a day, they can not work elsewhere, this clearly turns into their major job and they need to get the identical help as they’re purported to. pic.twitter.com/yb0xfJejqg

— सड़कchhap কমریڈ (@thekedar_sb) January 2, 2026