Tue Apr 29 07:06:14 UTC 2025: ## Blinkit Blocks IDs of 150 Striking Workers in India Amidst Heatwave
**Varanasi, India –** Around 150 Blinkit delivery workers in Varanasi, India, have had their employee IDs blocked after staging a strike to demand improved working conditions during the country’s intense summer heat, according to the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU).
The workers, who began their strike on April 26th, are demanding an end to mandatory work during the hottest part of the day (12 PM to 4 PM), the provision of shaded rest areas with water and fans, and cotton uniforms to combat the heat. The union reports that a company representative threatened the strikers with police action and demanded they sign affidavits promising not to strike again.
GIPSWU denounced Blinkit’s actions as unconstitutional and shared footage of the workers protesting, highlighting the risks of heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses faced by gig workers during India’s scorching summer. The union emphasized the lack of breaks and inadequate protection for workers who often travel long distances by bike in extreme temperatures.
Blinkit has yet to publicly respond to the strike and the blocking of employee IDs. The incident underscores growing concerns about the working conditions of gig workers in India and the need for greater protection during extreme weather events.
First Piper 