The recent nationwide New Year’s Eve strike by tens of thousands of app-based delivery and transport workers has starkly revealed the harsh realities behind the convenience economy-long hours, low pay, and unsafe conditions. This protest highlights how crucial gig workers have become to everyday urban services across India. At the same time, it underscores regulatory gaps that leave these millions without basic rights or protections. The gig economy now stands at a crossroads between rapid expansion and the urgent need for labour justice.
What is gig economy?
The gig economy, also known as the sharing or access economy, features temporary, freelance, and part-time positions often filled by independent contractors. While offering flexibility and independence to workers, it removes job security and benefits like health insurance and paid leave. Companies save costs by hiring freelancers without these benefits.
Status of gig economy in India:
The potential GDP contribution - estimates suggest the gig economy could add 1.25% to India's GDP by 2030 and create around 90 million jobs in the long term and handling $250 billion in transactions, driven by growth from 7.7 million workers in 2020-21 to 23.5 million by 2029-30, contributing through enhanced flexibility, new jobs, and increased digital participation.
Strike by gig workers across India:
- Better pay and fair wages
- Safe and secure working conditions
- Abolition of the “10-minute delivery” model
- Recognition of their rights, including union formation
- Implementation of social security benefits like pensions and insurance
The strike is organized by a federation of gig worker unions, emphasizing that their grievances are long-standing and rooted in systemic issues.
Recent steps taken by government:
Practical Measures helpful in strengthening gig economy:
Promote Active Implementation of Social Security Code: Operationalise the Social Security Fund and schemes promised for gig/platform workers (health cover, accident insurance, maternity benefits, pension). The Code provides for aggregator contributions (capped), but benefits must be clearly notified and delivered.Use e-Shram and Aadhaar-linked IDs to ensure portability across states/platforms and track eligibility. (Recent govt notes also highlight platform-worker registrations on e-Shram.)
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| Minimum pay. |
Promote Occupational Safety: Gig workers should be provided mandatory accident insurance, emergency support, and protective gear to ensure their safety. Platform work must be recognized as a safety-regulated occupation, with helmets, reflective jackets, vehicle fitness checks, and limits on work hours.
Ensure National Standards with State-Led Implementation: India should adopt a unified Gig Workers Welfare & Rights Framework that sets minimum national standards on wages, working hours, social security, safety, and grievance redressal, while allowing states to implement them through dedicated boards and welfare funds. The Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Act, 2023 serves as a model by mandating worker registration, creating a welfare board, and levying a welfare fee on digital platforms to finance social security benefits.
Conclusion:
A 10-minute delivery promise is effectively a time tax on worker safety, pushed by algorithms and market competition. India should pivot to a “safe delivery economy” with transparent pay, enforceable protections, and social security that actually reaches riders. Regulating speed models now will prevent a future where convenience is subsidised by injury, debt, and silent coercion.
Read more:
https://creativeyouth26.blogspot.com/2026/01/mental-health-disorders-serious-issue.html
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