A STUDY ON THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF DELIVERY WORKERS IN INDIA’S QUICK COMMERCE SECTOR IN THE COGNITIVE ERA: A THEORETICAL STUDY

Abstract

The rapid emergence of India’s Quick Commerce (Q-Commerce) sector, characterized by ultra-fast delivery models such as 10–30 minutes, has transformed urban consumption patterns and intensified last-mile logistics operations. While platforms like Zepto, Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket Now have driven exponential market growth, concerns over delivery workers’ employment terms, wages, safety, and social protection have escalated. This theoretical study, grounded entirely in secondary data, examines the working conditions of delivery personnel in India’s Q-Commerce ecosystem in the cognitive era. Drawing on existing literature, industry reports, and theoretical frameworks from labor economics and gig economy studies, the paper explores the structural and operational dynamics shaping workers’ realities. The analysis focuses on pay models, occupational hazards, algorithmic management, lack of employment benefits, and the broader socio-economic implications. The study applies concepts such as Marxist labor theory, the precariat class framework, and labor process theory to contextualize the challenges faced by delivery workers. Findings indicate that despite providing flexible earning opportunities, Q-Commerce employment is marred by economic precarity, time pressure, and insufficient regulatory oversight. The paper concludes with recommendations for policymakers and industry stakeholders to foster sustainable, worker-friendly business models in the Indian Q-Commerce sector in the cognitive era.