Zomato Stops Extra Earnings for PwDs: Deaf Man Raises Complaint
A Deaf delivery partner from Mumbai has urged Zomato to restore the extra incentives previously given to delivery partners with disabilities after the payments were reportedly stopped without notice.
Food delivery apps like Zomato and Swiggy have transformed how India orders food. They have also opened doors for thousands of people, including Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), by creating flexible job opportunities and helping many become financially independent.
To support delivery partners with disabilities, Zomato introduced several initiatives such as free registration, special technology support, smaller delivery zones, higher earnings per kilometre, extra incentives, and dedicated training programmes. In December 2022, the company also launched Project ZEAL (Zomato's Equitable Action for Livelihood) to create more employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
However, a recent post by Mumbai-based Deaf delivery partner Vinod Makwana has sparked concern.
Vinod claimed that delivery partners with disabilities earlier received additional earnings—either ?80 extra or 25% more per order—but this benefit has now been stopped without any prior notice.
According to him, the change has significantly reduced the income of many delivery partners with disabilities. He appealed to Zomato to restore the extra payment and shared a photo of his delivery vehicle carrying a sticker that read, "Hearing Impaired Driver."
Responding to his post on X, Zomato said, "Hi Vinod, we understand your concern and our team is looking into this."
The company has not yet clarified whether the additional payment has been permanently discontinued or temporarily paused. Many are now waiting for Zomato's response and hoping for greater clarity and support for delivery partners with disabilities.
