Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government is mulling issuing a special advisory for fast delivery e-commerce platforms, including Zepto, Blinkit, BigBasket, and JioMart, over concerns about their short delivery timeframes.
Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena stated that the advisory will ask these platforms not to fix rigid time limits for delivery, such as 10 or 15 minutes.
“We will issue an advisory for the aggregators asking them not to fix any fixed time limit for delivery. They should not fix a 10-minute or 15-minute time limit for delivery. The delivery boys will be imparted special training on road safety,” Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said.
The government’s concern stems from the increasing number of delivery riders facing hazardous working conditions while attempting to meet tight deadlines. These conditions expose them to physical injuries, mental stress, and harassment. The Labour and Employees’ State Insurance Department has urged prompt regulatory action to address these issues.
The advisory will also focus on imparting special training to delivery personnel on road safety. The government aims to enforce mandatory safety standards for delivery workers, including proper training on emergency response.
The Commerce & Transport Department will take prompt action based on a letter from the Labour & ESI Department, which highlights the urgent need to protect delivery workers’ rights and lives. The advisory is expected to bring relief to lakhs of frontline delivery workers nationwide.
