A new service in Delhi allows shoppers to hire individuals to carry their shopping bags from marketplaces to their homes or vehicles. The model, which resembles the porters found in train stations and airports, raises questions about labour rights and the gig economy’s expansion into low-wage manual tasks.
The service, launched by a Delhi-based startup, charges customers a flat fee per hour for a hired assistant who will accompany them during shopping trips, carrying purchases and easing the burden of heavy loads. The startup claims to have vetted its workers, provided them with uniforms, and ensures they receive fair wages above the minimum. Yet critics warn that such services risk normalising a two-tier society where the wealthy can purchase physical labour for trivial tasks, potentially exploiting a vulnerable workforce with little recourse for grievance.
India’s informal labour market is vast: the National Sample Survey Office estimates that over 80 per cent of workers are in informal employment. This new platform could offer some structure and income for those otherwise dependent on piecemeal work. However, the model’s long-term sustainability hinges on maintaining ethical standards and avoiding the pitfalls of deregulated gig work.
Similar services have emerged in other Asian cities, with mixed success. In Manila, a comparable app called “Angkas” expanded from motorcycle taxis to include personal assistants for shopping. In Bangkok, independent porters have long operated in markets, but without formal registration or insurance. Delhi’s approach, with its emphasis on technology and tracking, might provide a template for regulation.
Yet the challenge remains: can this model scale without devolving into exploitation? The startup’s founders argue they are creating dignified jobs. Labour activists disagree, pointing to the lack of social security or union representation. The city’s government has not yet commented on the service’s legality.
For now, the service operates in a few upscale neighbourhoods, targeting affluent shoppers. Whether it becomes a staple of urban life or a flashpoint for labour disputes will depend on how it navigates the ethics of convenience.
