Fast and furious

Monthly transacting users on quick commerce

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partner waiting outside a dark store in central Delhi, confirms that workers are ranked. "A high ranking brings greater benefits, including enhanced insurance cover, priority access to preferred time slots for work and other operational privileges," he says.

Though delivery jobs are often marketed as flexible, the incentive structures subtly pressure workers to maintain their rank, sometimes encouraging unsafe practices.

Zepto, for instance, has 'Zepto Star', a tiered performance scheme tied to delivery partners' benefits. Each upgrade brings extra perks, incentivizing consistent performance. Zepto pays partners a fixed rate per kilometer for deliveries and a lower rate for return journeys, making earnings dependent on distance and incentive-based payments, says a delivery partner who does not wish to be named.

To qualify for incentives, Zepto partners must complete specific slots each day, including two during peak hours and one during non-peak hours, he adds. Shifts vary: part-time partners get two-hour slots, while full-time partners have four-hour blocks. "A 10-minute break is allowed every two hours, but partners are encouraged to stay available throughout their shift," says a Zepto delivery partner at a pickup point in east Delhi.