Gig Worker Welfare Fee: Will Your Food Bill Rise?

Karnataka's new law makes Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto pay a welfare fee for gig workers. Courts haven't stopped it. This cost could quietly land on your food delivery bill soon.

Here's what happened: Karnataka's Gig Workers Welfare Act 2025 requires platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, and Zepto to pay a welfare contribution for every delivery or service order fulfilled.. The Karnataka High Court refused to pause the law, ordering platforms to deposit the welfare fee for April–June 2026 within three weeks.. Platforms including Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, and Urban Company challenged the law but received only limited protection — no coercive action, but payments must be made..

What you should do: Watch your food delivery bills over the next 2–3 months for any new 'platform fee' or 'welfare surcharge' line items.. Compare total order costs across apps — if one platform passes on the fee and another absorbs it, switch to save money.. Budget for slightly higher delivery costs if you order frequently — set a monthly food delivery cap (e.g., ₹1,500) to avoid bill shock..

Platforms often hide cost increases inside 'platform fees' or reduced discount coupons — check your order breakdown screen, not just the final total.