Covid fear worries Swiggy, Zomato delivery boys

Swiggy and Zomato delivery executives are wary of working during the current Covid-19 outbreak.

While both companies have announced multiple precautionary measures, executives are nonetheless worried about being at high risk of contracting the virus.

A few days ago, Swiggy, in a statement, announced that it would be training its executives on respiratory hygiene and other matters.

A representative of the company said, “We have taught our delivery partners to notice symptoms. If they report any, they will be referred to a medical professional for a free consultation.” Additionally, the statement said restaurants have been briefed about maintaining hygiene.

A FEW days ago, Swiggy, in a statement, announced that it would be training its executives on respiratory hygiene and other matters.

A DELIVERY executive for one of these companies, however, said he was not satisfied with the response. “No sanitisers or masks are being provided to us. Many executives don’t even know about the virus,” he said.

Zomato too has announced several measures. Deepinder Goyal, founder of the company, announced that it will focus on ‘contactless delivery,’ wherein executives could place food outside a customer’s door instead of directly handing it to them.

Also, he said that executives would be supported financially in case they are diagnosed with Covid19.

A delivery executive for one of these companies, however, said he was not satisfied with the response. “No sanitisers or masks are being provided to us. In fact, many executives don’t even know about the virus,” he said. Also, he added, most restaurants he was visiting through the day were not practicing better hygiene standards than usual.

“Most chefs and waiters are not listening to us. There is nothing we can do to reduce our risk,” he said.

Another executive said his manager was still unaware of the prescribed precautionary measures.