Food delivery agents see 40 pc drop in online orders due to LPG crisis

BENGALURU: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, specifically the US-Israel-Iran war, is having a ripple effect on the hotel industry in the state. The crisis has led to a shortage of LPG cylinders, affecting hotel operations and forcing them to limit their menu options. Many hotels have even suspended their online food delivery services, resulting in a significant decline in orders.

According to estimates, online food delivery orders have dropped by 40 per cent in the past 15 days, impacting the livelihoods of thousands of food delivery agents and gig workers who rely on these platforms for their daily income. The Karnataka Gig Workers Union has urged the government to provide relief, stating that approximately four lakh gig workers, including food delivery agents, are struggling to make ends meet.

The situation is dire, with workers earning barely Rs 1,000 a day, and fuel prices escalating due to the global conflict. The union highlighted the condition of daily wage earners in Karnataka, who are bearing the brunt of the war’s impact on global markets.

“Gig workers, especially food delivery partners, have been facing problems over the last 20 days. They would get 25-30 bookings daily, but now, it has dropped to 12-13 bookings as hotels are closing down. Earlier, delivery partners would get orders even from small hotels and orders have dropped by 35-40 per cent. If the situation continues, about 4.5 lakh gig workers will come to the streets”, Mohammed Inayat Ali, president of the Karnataka App-based Workers Union, told Public TV.

“The state government points fingers at the Centre for the LPG shortage, but the Union government says there is no shortage. Hotels are catering only to their walk-in customers and are rejecting online orders. We will meet the CM soon and request for some relief due to the fall in incomes”, he added.

Shankar, a food delivery agent, in a self-made video, said, “I have been working for the last six years and had never seen such a situation. We are facing lot of hardship as restaurants are closing down due to LPG shortage. We used to work 12-13 hours and take home Rs 1,000-1,500 per day, but now we are working 14-16 hours as orders have come down. Lakhs of delivery agents have been impacted by the prevailing situation and we fear that we will come to the streets”.