Dark Side of the Gig Economy

As the world emerges from the pandemic, the gig economy has experienced a surge in growth, with self-
employed workers playing a significant role in driving the economy forward. By 2029–30, India’s gig economy is anticipated to employ 23.5 million people and generate up to 4% of the country’s income. However, despite its size and impact, the gig economy is still not covered by labour regulations, and many gig workers in India continue to work without access to social protections.

Platform workers and freelancers are not covered by any labour laws, despite the government replacing 29 old labour regulations with four new ones between 2019 and 2020. Additionally, the recent demonstrations by gig workers have brought to light the difficulties faced by them, whose pay rates are subject to sudden change and are therefore susceptible to the whims of much more powerful entities.