Bengaluru, Jan. 1 -- The nationwide strike called by gig workers against food delivery platforms such as Swiggy and Zomato on New Year's Eve was largely ineffective as riders didn't want to lose the chance to earn additional income after companies offered financial incentives for a day.

Zomato set peak-hour rates at around Rs.120 to Rs.150 per order during the early evening to midnight on New Year's Eve, according to its letter to delivery partners reviewed by Mint. Depending on order volumes and availability, riders had the potential to earn around Rs.3,000 throughout the day. The company also temporarily waived penalties for order refusals and cancellations.

Swiggy's year-end incentive structure allowed riders to earn up to about Rs.1...