Bengaluru: The LPG supply disruption in Bengaluru has affected the livelihood of gig employees who earn money from the total number of food order deliveries they make each day. Due to concerns over fuel supply, several restaurants in the tech hub have either curbed their menus or temporarily suspended taking orders, said media reports. Fewer orders mean lower earnings for workers. The LPG crisis began after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most critical oil and gas shipping routes – closed. However, Iran allowed two Indian oil carriers to pass through the key passage two days ago. The situation remains complicated amid the ongoing conflict following coordinated attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel.
Lower Income
Gig workers said their daily income has dropped sharply because many restaurants are struggling with a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, reported The Hindu. Since many restaurants depend on LPG cylinders, they had to temporarily closed their kitchens after the supply hit. Meanwhile, many have reduced their operations or stopped accepting orders on food delivery apps.
Gig workers who deliver food for these platforms say this situation has badly affected their earnings. Their income depends entirely on the number of deliveries they complete each day. When orders fall, their daily pay also drops.
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According to several delivery workers, the number of orders on food delivery apps has reduced sharply in the past three days. Many of them say orders have fallen by around 50% to 70%. This means fewer trips, fewer deliveries, and much lower earnings.
Some workers said they now spend long hours waiting for orders that never arrive. Earlier, they could complete many deliveries in a day, but now they struggle to get enough orders to make a reasonable income.
Delivery workers are worried that if the LPG shortage continues, more restaurants may stop taking online orders. This could further reduce work opportunities for thousands of gig workers who depend on food delivery platforms for their livelihood.
