Bhubaneswar: Amid the nationwide controversy after Zomato, a popular food delivery app, turned down a customer’s request to ‘change rider’, it’s the delivery boys in Bhubaneswar who are now up in arms against the company, but for a different cause. Alleging reduction in their incentives, the Zomato riders staged a demonstration at Lower PMG Square in Bhubaneswar on Friday.
Raising slogans against Zomato, around 100 riders under the banner of All Zomato Rider’s Union-Bhubaneswar staged a demonstration protesting the cut in their pay per-order.
The riders alleged that Zomato used to pay Rs 35 per delivery, but has now deducted Rs 11 per order. “Initially, we were paid Rs 35 per each order. When the company started to incur loss, they had slashed Rs 5 each from per order which was done after prior discussion with us. However, they are now deducting Rs 11 per order. Today, we have staged demonstration as we are finding hard to run our families,” alleged Ranjan Kumar Behera, one of the protesters.
The agitators also threatened to continue their stir and not allow anyone to take online orders for food delivery.
“None of the company deducts the salary of its employees, but Zomato does. With rise in the prices of petrol, we find it difficult to maintain our vehicles. When we raised our voice, they blocked our IDs and fired us,” alleged Sachin Kumar Ray, another rider.
"The company should not force us to take order late night especially in some areas where miscreants loot bike, cash, mobile and other valuables. If our demands are not fulfilled, we will intensify our protest and will not allow anyone to work as Zomato deliver boys,” Ray added.
The authorities of Zomato could not be contacted over such allegations.