Woman rescues Zomato agent hit by cars; slams company's helpline
A woman in Delhi recently criticized online food delivery giant Zomato for its inadequate emergency response after witnessing a delivery agent being hit by two cars. The woman, known as Anjali, shared the incident on social media and expressed her concerns about the company's treatment of its delivery partners. Her post on micro-blogging site X has garnered over six lakh views
Zomato agent hit by two cars; left unconscious
Anjali reported that she saw a Zomato delivery agent, later identified as Lalan, being struck by two cars in Chanakyapuri, a locality in Delhi. Lalan, who was riding an e-scooter, sustained severe injuries, particularly to his arm. Anjali, along with some pedestrians and two other Zomato agents, attempted to assist the injured rider by contacting Zomato's emergency service but received no response.
Read: Anjali's post here
Woman criticizes Zomato's lack of support for riders
Anjali criticized Zomato for its lack of support for its riders. She wrote on social media: "Anyone who studies the gig economy, even if not in-depth, fully understands that riders are invisible to the top leaders." She urged CEO Deepinder Goyal to officially recognize gig workers as employees and ensure they receive appropriate rights, fair compensation, and access to medical benefits.
Zomato acknowledges gaps in support system
Zomato responded to Anjali's criticism by acknowledging gaps in its support system for delivery partners. The company stated: "Hi Anjali, it is heartening to see the effort you took to ensure the safety and due care for our delivery partner." They also provided an update on Lalan's condition, stating that he had escaped without any serious injuries and was advised by doctors to rest for a few days.
Zomato assures health insurance coverage for delivery partners
Zomato further stated that all their delivery partners are covered under their health insurance policy, which includes hospitalization and daycare with coverage up to ₹1 lakh. The company also admitted that its emergency response could be improved and pledged to make necessary changes. The company promised to reduce the wait time on SOS calls to a few seconds and ensure instant connection, with these changes being reflected in their delivery partner app within 24 hours.
