Flipkart warehouse strike enters second day amid wage cut allegations

MUMBAI: When the wheels of e-commerce slow down, it is often the voices behind the warehouse doors that finally get heard. A labour dispute at a Flipkart warehouse on the Farrukhnagar–Jhajjar border has entered its second day, with thousands of workers staging a strike over alleged wage cuts and deteriorating working conditions.

The protest, involving both male and female employees, has cast a spotlight on labour practices in India’s booming e-commerce industry, where speed and scale often depend on an invisible workforce operating behind the scenes.

Workers allege that their monthly earnings have fallen sharply in recent weeks, dropping from around Rs 18,000 to between Rs 12,000 and Rs 14,000. Some employees have made even more serious claims, alleging that certain categories of work are now being compensated at as little as Rs 50 for an entire night shift, a charge that has intensified concerns over compliance with minimum wage norms.

The timing has added to the unrest. With the region battling intense heatwave conditions, workers say they are being asked to work long shifts without adequate access to drinking water, shaded rest areas or cooling facilities. Several protesters described the environment as increasingly difficult and unsafe, particularly during peak daytime temperatures.

At the centre of the agitation is a straightforward demand: fair pay and humane working conditions. Workers are seeking the restoration of previous wage levels, payment in accordance with statutory minimum wage requirements, and the provision of basic workplace amenities, including water, rest spaces and cooling infrastructure.

The issue has now attracted national attention after labour leaders stepped in. Shaik Salauddin, Co-Founder and National General Secretary of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), described the allegations as “deeply disturbing”, particularly claims of workers receiving just Rs 50 for a full night shift.

He questioned how such compensation could sustain workers in 2026 and called for immediate intervention by both company management and government authorities.

Salauddin also warned that the dispute could grow beyond a local flashpoint. IFAT, he said, is prepared to engage labour unions and worker groups across the country to build a wider solidarity movement if the concerns remain unresolved.

The federation has urged labour departments and regulatory agencies to launch an immediate investigation into the allegations and ensure compliance with labour laws. It argued that warehouse and gig workers form the backbone of India’s digital commerce economy and that sustainable industry growth depends on fair wages, safe workplaces and dignity at work.

As the strike continues beyond 24 hours, attention is shifting from a single warehouse to a broader question facing India’s e-commerce sector: who bears the cost of delivering convenience at scale?