Rising Gig Economy in India
Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in gig workers due to the adoption of digital platforms. A NITI Aayog report highlights this surge:
- Current Numbers: 7.7 million gig and platform workers in 2020-21.
- Future Projections: Estimated to reach 23.5 million by 2029-30.
Examples Illustrating Scale
- Zomato: Approximately 5.5 lakh monthly delivery partners in Q2 of 2025-26.
- Blinkit: Around 3.39 lakh delivery partners.
- Uber: Over 1 million drivers by 2023.
Concerns and Challenges
Despite the absorption of labor in the non-farm sector, several issues affect gig workers:
- Fluctuating and uncertain wages.
- Lack of transparency in pay structures.
- Long working hours and unsafe conditions.
- Recent strikes by workers from companies like Swiggy, Zomato, and Zepto over 10-minute delivery services highlight these issues.
Government Measures
The Union government has initiated steps to improve gig workers' welfare:
- Formal Recognition: Gig and platform workers are defined under new labor codes.
- Social Security: Aggregators must contribute 1-2% of their turnover to a social security fund.
- Eligibility for government-notified accident insurance, health, and maternity benefits.
- Formation of an expert committee under the National Social Security Board.
Recommendations for Companies
Companies should recognize the importance of gig workers to their operations. Recommendations include:
- Listen and address workers' concerns.
- Ensure transparent payment structures.
- Negotiate fair and reasonable solutions, acknowledging that slightly delayed deliveries may not significantly impact profits but could enhance worker safety.
