Heatwave hustlers: Companies promise ACs, electrolytes to brave summer scorch, gig workers say it’s just on paper

Hundreds of thousands of gig workers are braving sweltering afternoons to keep India’s digital economy running

By the time the mercury hits 43°C in Delhi, Pawan Kumar is already halfway through his shift. The 32-year-old delivery worker, who shuttles between neighbourhoods in West Delhi for a quick commerce platform, has grown used to the heat—but not immune to it.

“I carry an extra bottle of water and try to park under some shade near parks or buildings between orders,” he said. “But on days with 20–25 deliveries, there’s barely time to rest.”

Kumar is among hundreds of thousands of gig workers braving sweltering afternoons to keep India’s digital economy running. From food to groceries to e-commerce parcels, delivery platforms are facing pressure to ensure their frontline workers—many of them independent contractors—are protected from the punishing summer heat.

What the companies are doing

This summer, India's largest delivery platforms have rolled out a mix of infrastructure, technology and policy interventions to help gig workers cope with the soaring heat. From shaded rest zones and hydration stations to flexible shift patterns and insurance coverage, the focus is on both immediate relief and longer-term resilience.

Eternal, which owns Zomato and Blinkit, has expanded its “Shelters Project” to over 2,500 rest points across the country, offering drinking water, shaded seating and clean washrooms. The company also pushes in-app safety tips and sends real-time weather alerts to delivery partners.

“We have introduced full-sleeve, dry-fit T-shirts for all delivery partners that will ensure maximum comfort during deliveries as temperatures soar,” an Eternal spokesperson said. Additionally, the company provides insurance coverage and 24/7 ambulance support across over 800 cities.

Zepto has taken a hub-based approach by turning its dark stores into recovery zones. These facilities—located close to delivery zones—offer air coolers, refreshments and washrooms. In collaboration with Fast&Up, the company is distributing hydration supplements in over 80 cities.

Besides an insurance cover, Zepto, like many of its rivals, has introduced flexible, slot-based work schedules. It also claims to offer enhanced incentives during high-heat hours.

“Zepto provides enhanced incentives for riders working during peak summer hours, offering up to 2X the regular incentive rates during afternoon shifts,” said Zepto Chief Operating Officer Vikas Sharma, adding that the company’s flexible work schedule allows riders to operate in multiple two-hour slots throughout the day.

Amazon, too, has announced 100 “Ashray” centres—air-conditioned rest stops accessible to delivery partners of any platform. These provide drinking water, mobile charging stations, first aid, and tea or coffee. The e-commerce giant's heat-readiness toolkit includes route planning based on weather inputs, electrolyte distribution, heat index monitoring and dedicated medical support.

“Our comprehensive heat management protocols are built into our standard operations, including scheduled job rotations, additional breaks and hydration guidelines. We ensure that our ground teams are trained on these procedures,” an Amazon spokesperson said.

Likewise, Flipkart’s summer preparedness strategy includes hydration kits, climate-controlled rest areas and staggered shifts. The platform has also implemented proactive health monitoring and flexible work timings to accommodate heat-related concerns.

“As temperatures rise across the country, it is essential for the e-commerce logistics ecosystem to take proactive steps in safeguarding the wellbeing of delivery partners and associates,” a Flipkart spokesperson said.

Companies not doing enough, say gig workers 

While these steps signal an evolving commitment to worker welfare, gig worker groups caution that access to these facilities is not always consistent.

A 2024 survey by the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT) found that over 50 percent of gig workers reported symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and over 40 percent said they lacked access to cold and clean drinking water. Another 69 percent reported lacking access to clean washroom facilities.

While companies say there are measures in place, gig workers have historically said firms are not doing enough.

“The infrastructure sounds good on paper, but workers often don’t have the time or information to use it. Aggregators need to fully disclose exact locations of where rest zones have been set up,” said Shaik Salauddin, IFAT’s national general secretary.

The union has also raised concerns about the trade-off between heat safety and earnings. With performance-linked pay and delivery targets still in place, many riders hesitate to take breaks that could reduce their income.

“Flexibility is only meaningful if riders can afford to slow down,” Salauddin said.

That said, the 2024 summer marks a noticeable shift in how companies are addressing occupational heat stress in the gig economy. The use of technology—whether through weather alerts, optimised routing or in-app nudges—has improved.

Still, gig workers, by the nature of their informal employment status, remain vulnerable. Much depends on local execution, platform accountability and whether protections can be scaled beyond tier 1 cities, said industry stakeholders.

For now, companies and workers appear to be improvising side by side—finding ways to stay cool in a job that doesn’t pause for the weather.

The bottom line

The heat is no longer just a seasonal inconvenience—it’s a structural challenge for India’s gig economy. As climate change intensifies and cities grow hotter, delivery platforms will need to do more than offer water bottles and weather alerts, industry watchers said.

Ensuring equitable access, empowering workers to take meaningful breaks without fear of lost income and embedding health protections into the core of gig work could determine whether the people powering India’s instant economy survive the next summer. However, the nature of their work is such that there is little respite, they concluded.