Indian food delivery platforms hit as orders fall amid LPG crisis

Core Insights - The ongoing war in the Middle East has led to a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in India, significantly disrupting food delivery activities across the country [1][4]. Group 1: Impact on Food Delivery - Daily orders for delivery workers linked to platforms have plummeted from around 30 orders a day to approximately five, severely affecting earnings and work availability [2]. - The shortage of commercial LPG cylinders is expected to reduce delivery volumes, causing shares of quick service restaurant (QSR) operators and online delivery platforms like Zomato and Swiggy to decline by 1% on March 12, with intraday drops of up to 5% [3]. - The Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) reported that the disruption has led to a 50%-60% reduction in food delivery orders on platforms like Zomato and Swiggy due to restaurant closures and reduced operations [4]. Group 2: Union Response and Demands - GIPSWU has urged food delivery platforms not to penalize workers for decreased order volumes and has submitted demands to the Indian Labour Ministry, including ensuring the supply of commercial LPG to food businesses and providing immediate relief of Rs10,000 ($108) for each affected worker [5]. - The union also called for a three-month moratorium on ID deactivations, minimum daily incentives, and full gig worker coverage under the Code on Social Security, 2020 [6]. - Several restaurants and cloud kitchens have reportedly shut down or reduced menu offerings due to limited access to cooking gas, prompting the government to invoke the Essential Commodities Act for cooking gas regulation [6].