VIRAL
Comedian Kunal Kamra criticizes quick commerce platforms like Blinkit for exploiting gig workers with unfair wages and long hours, highlighting the lack of regulations in the industry.
After a public feud with Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal in 2024 over unresolved customer complaints and faulty product deliveries, comedian Kunal Kamra has started 2025 by turning his attention to quick commerce platforms. These platforms, including Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto, have rapidly expanded across major Indian cities, offering grocery and household deliveries within minutes.
While customers appreciate the convenience of these services, Kamra has highlighted the darker side of the industry, focusing on the exploitation of gig workers. He pointed out unfair wages and long working hours as key issues that often go unnoticed by the general public.
Kamra Questions Blinkit CEO on New Year’s Eve
Kamra’s criticism began on New Year’s Eve when Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa was live-tweeting about the surge in orders during the holiday. Dhindsa shared interesting statistics, such as 1.2 lakh packs of condoms and 45,000 bottles of mineral water being delivered by Blinkit that night.
Responding to this, Kamra raised an important question about the wages of Blinkit’s delivery workers. He asked Dhindsa, “Can you also enlighten us with data on the average wages you paid your ‘Delivery Partners’ in 2024?” The comedian emphasized the term “delivery partners,” referencing how companies avoid recognizing gig workers as employees. By doing so, corporations bypass providing fair salaries, medical insurance, and employee benefits.
Criticism of Gig Economy Exploitation
In subsequent posts, Kamra delved deeper into the exploitation of gig workers, stating, “Platform owners exploit gig workers & they aren’t job creators. They are landlords without owning any land.” He accused these CEOs of lacking creativity and innovation, instead profiting from underpaid workers.
Kamra likened these CEOs to “thugs,” claiming they exploit workers due to a lack of regulation. His posts resonated with many, garnering over 1.9 lakh views. Several social media users supported his stance, with one noting that most gig workers earn below minimum wage after expenses, while platforms enjoy billion-dollar valuations.
Kamra’s criticism sheds light on the growing concerns about fairness and ethics in the booming quick commerce sector.