Indian Gig Firms have potential to become big international business: Finance Minister (FM) | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Indian Gig Firms have potential to become big international business: Finance Minister (FM)

Posted 23 Nov 2024

2 min read

Highlighting India’s innovation capabilities by start-ups and gig economy, FM said these ventures can be capitalized to establish “brand India”.

What is the Gig economy?

  • It is characterized by task-based, piece-work or gigs.
  • Features: Temporary short-term contracts, independent assignments with flexible work timings,  mediated through digital labor platforms
  • Status in India
    • Around 77 lakh  workers were engaged in the gig economy in India (2020-2021). It is expected to expand to 2.35 crore by 2029-30. (NITI Aayog)
  • Opportunities:
    • India’s fast-growing emerging markets with increased pace of urbanization
    • Substantial rise in informal economies along with rising middle-class consumption demands
    • Availability of an aspirational class of workers ready to provide wide-ranging services
    • Potential for massive growth and diversification across delivery and  e-commerce

Challenges faced by the Sector

  • Lack of social security, employment uncertainty & exploitation, lack of legal status of employees, overlap in definition of gig workers, platform workers giving rise to implementational challenges etc.

Steps to be Taken

  • Role of Employer and Business Membership Organizations (EBMOs): facilitate social dialogue and shape policies for sustainable growth and worker protection.(ILO)
  • Catalysing Platformization: A Platform India initiative on the lines of Startup India to accelerate platformization by providing funding support etc (NITI Ayog)
  • Extending social security for gig & platform workers: by making provisions for paid sick leave, insurance etc

India’s Initiatives

  • Code on Social Security, 2020 : It has categorized and defined gig workers, platform workers and unorganised workers and has formally recognized their existence. 
  • e-Shram portal:  For registration and creation of a Comprehensive National Database of Unorganized Workers including gig workers and platform workers.
  • Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC): ONDC is a globally first-of-its-kind initiative that aims to democratise Digital Commerce, moving it from a platform-centric model to an open-network.
  • Tags :
  • Gig Economy
  • Gig Workers
  • Social Security
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