Will only vegetarian workers be part of Pure Veg Fleet? Telangana gig workers ask Zomato

Hyderabad: Post Zomato ‘s announcement of ` Pure Veg Fleet’, founder-president of Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) Shaik Salauddin has asked the company whether it intends to filter out delivery workers who are vegetarian only.

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal recently announced a `Pure Veg Mode’ and `Pure Veg Fleet’ on the Zomato app,

Goyal's announcement is aimed at catering specifically to customers who adhere to a vegetarian diet, providing them with an option for deliveries solely from pure vegetarian restaurants. However, Salauddin's concern revolves around the potential discrimination faced by delivery workers based on their dietary preferences and the precedent set by Zomato's stance on inclusivity and diversity.

In a statement addressing Goyal directly, Salauddin questioned whether Zomato intends to filter out delivery workers who are vegetarian only to service this `Pure Veg Fleet’, identifiable by green delivery bags. He asked whether Zomato would extend this filtering to other aspects, such as caste, community, and religion, based on customer feedback.

Salauddin emphasized Zomato's previous stance on inclusivity, citing Goyal's assertion that "Food doesn't have a religion. It is a religion."

He reminded Zomato of its commitment to upholding values even at the expense of losing business.

Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union sought assurances from Zomato regarding the safety and dignity of all delivery workers, regardless of dietary preferences or other personal attributes.

“Zomato is urged to address the implications of its `Pure Veg Fleet' initiative and reaffirm its commitment to inclusivity and diversity, ensuring the fair treatment of all its delivery workers,” he said.

What is the Pure-veg fleet by Zomato?

This new service feature guarantees that users will be presented with restaurants exclusively serving vegetarian cuisine upon selection. Additionally, orders made through this option will be managed by Zomato's dedicated Pure Veg Fleet, easily identifiable by their distinctive green delivery boxes.

Goyal elucidated the reasoning behind this initiative, focusing on the potential issue of food spillage in delivery containers, which could result in the scent of non-vegetarian dishes impacting subsequent orders. He stressed the importance of segregating fleets to uphold the integrity of vegetarian orders.

Zomato's Response

In response to feedback and concerns raised regarding the segregation of its Pure Veg Fleet, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has announced a significant update to the company's approach.

Goyal revealed that while Zomato will maintain a separate fleet for vegetarian orders, they have decided to eliminate the on-ground differentiation using the color green. Instead, all Zomato delivery partners, both from the regular fleet and the vegetarian fleet, will now wear uniforms in the color red.

This decision aims to prevent any potential misidentification of delivery partners associated with vegetarian orders, ensuring their safety and avoiding any inconvenience they may face, such as being blocked by residential welfare associations (RWAs) or societies during special occasions.

Acknowledging the unintended consequences of the initial rollout, Goyal expressed gratitude to the community for their feedback, whether positive or critical, which contributed to reaching this optimal solution. He emphasized Zomato's commitment to listening to its customers and continuously improving without unnecessary ego or pride.

With this update, Zomato reaffirms its dedication to serving all customers while prioritizing the safety and well-being of its delivery partners.