Gig workers
The Karnataka government Tuesday formed a 16-member welfare board to provide social security to gig and platform workers in the state, facilitating app-based aggregators and e-commerce service providers to deposit their share with the newly constituted body.
Karnataka forms gig workers’ welfare board
All aggregators will have to pay a welfare fee in the range of 1-1.5 percent of the transaction, which was downward revised from the earlier proposal of 5 percent made in April last year.
Is the gig economy empowering workers or institutionalising a new form of exploitation?
The immediate trigger was Deepinder Goyal’s post on X (formerly Twitter), where he claimed that despite “a small section of miscreants” trying to disrupt operations, Zomato and Blinkit achieved record-breaking deliveries. He even thanked the police administration, raising eyebrows among worker unions.
In contrast, the Telangana Gig Workers’ Association asserted that the strike was effective and accused companies of using police pressure to weaken it. Workers questioned why the CEO chose to thank the police instead of engaging with worker unions or addressing grievances.
This sharp divergence in narratives exposes a fundamental disconnect between corporate leadership and ground-level realities.
Gig workers across platforms have raised consistent demands:
- No access to toilets or elevators during deliveries
- No social security (PF, pension, job stability)
- Low and unpredictable wages
- Long unpaid waiting hours on apps
- No grievance redressal mechanism
- Arbitrary blocking from platforms leading to income loss
Deepinder Goyal, unlike most industry leaders, chose to respond publicly to the controversy and, in the process, inadvertently revealed key aspects of how the gig economy functions.
12/01/2026
India's booming gig economy faces challenges as a nationwide strike exposed delivery workers' issues: unfair pay, safety risks from 10-minute deliveries, and opaque algorithms. While new labor laws offer social security recognition, fair wages and algorithm oversight are critical. Consumers share responsibility by not prioritizing speed over worker dignity.
https://theprint.in/opinion/labour-codes-harsh-reality-gig-work/2818744/
As per an NCAER-Prosus report, India’s food delivery platform sector generated Rs 1.2 lakh crore in gross output in 2023-24, and direct employment by the sector increased from 1.08 million workers in 2021-22 to 1.37 million workers in 2023-24.
The report also stated that employment in the sector grew at a CAGR of 12.3 per cent between 2021-22 and 2023-24, compared to all-India CAGR of 7.9 per cent.
But what this report does not state is that gig workers earn low wages, and risk their life each time they get your order to you in ten minutes
The real fault lies with the algorithm, which controls the gig work but cannot be held accountable. Platforms describe their delivery partners as “independent contractors”. But is it truly independence when: the app decides which order you see, the app decides your effective hourly earning, when you can be penalised for rejecting or cancelling the order, you can be deactivated with limited options for appeal, and when the ten-minute deliveries pose a risk to your life.
In response to the organised protests, Blinkit blocked the worker IDs of delivery partners in a complete violation of the freedom of association guaranteed under Article 19.
ON APRIL 26, OVER 150 GIG WORKERS WORKING WITH BLINKIT - an online instant delivery app owned by Zomato - went on a strike to protest policy changes by the company. The workers had a list of eleven demands, including higher wages, availability of shaded areas and water, and cotton uniforms, among other things. The company, however, responded by blocking their worker IDs. Gig and Platform Services Workers Union (‘GIPSWU’) - a trade union working to improve the conditions of the gig economy - alleges that the company also sent a representative to intimidate the workers by threatening police action, and demanded that they sign affidavits vowing never to strike again. They complain that this is unconstitutional and exploitative of labour laws.
As India prepares for an intense summer, the National Disaster Management Authority (‘NDMA’) has issued red alerts for heatwaves and released safety guidelines to help citizens stay protected. However, delivery personnel, who travel long distances on bikes and scooters, are expected to work through peak heat hours, often without access to paid breaks, washrooms, rest stops, or any heat-related compensation. To further exacerbate the issue, Blinkit’s new incentive guideline has made it compulsory to work during peak heat hours (between 12 noon to 4 PM). The protest by gig workers in Varanasi was borne out of contempt for the changed incentive structure. The pay-per-order for the workers has also been reduced significantly. The workers demanded an increase in the pay rate and reinstatement of the previous incentive structure.
by Himanshi Aggarwal
10/05/2025
The gig economy in India has expanded at an unprecedented pace, driven by the rapid growth of digital platforms and consumer demand for on-demand services. According to a NITI Aayog report, there were 7.7 million gig workers in India in 2020–21, and this figure is projected to surge to 23.5 million by 2029–30. Gig work, often celebrated for its flexibility, hides a grim reality – the absence of job security, social security benefits and legal protections. The Plight of Gig Workers in India - The Wire
Unlike regular employees, gig workers are classified as “independent contractors”, making them ineligible for essential rights such as minimum wage, paid leave, accident compensation and health benefits. Their dependence on algorithmic ratings and customer reviews means that their employment is perpetually unstable.
Films like Ken Loach’s Sorry We Missed You powerfully capture this reality. The film’s protagonist, Ricky Turner, a delivery driver, struggles with mounting debt and emotional strain due to the exploitative conditions of gig work. His story mirrors that of thousands of gig workers in India, who endure long hours, fluctuating earnings, and the constant fear of deactivation – the industry’s euphemism for termination.
A notable exception is the Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers Act, 2023 – India’s first state-level legislation specifically addressing gig worker rights. It mandates platform registration, data-sharing obligations and the establishment of a welfare board. However, the absence of national-level legislation means that gig workers in other states remain vulnerable to exploitation.
by Naina Bhargava and Madhumita Sharma
01/05/2025