Drivers of the 'New Age Service Economy': Gig Workers in India

This study examines the emergence and growth of the gig economy in India, focusing on platform-based work and women's participation. Drawing on interviews with gig workers and an analysis of recent trends, this paper traces the trajectory of gig work as an extension of informal labour in the neoliberal economy. While initially promising flexibility and autonomy, the gig economy has led to precarious working conditions through algorithmic management practices. Women have entered gig work in significant numbers, attracted by the promise of flexibility, but they face gendered challenges. This paper analyses attempts at worker collectivisation and regulation of the sector, including landmark legal cases on the status of gig workers. Despite some policy initiatives, gig workers remain largely unprotected by the labour laws. The study finds that while the gig economy has created new work opportunities, especially for women, it has also reproduced existing labour market inequality. Algorithmic control undermines worker autonomy, and the misclassification of workers as independent contractors excludes them from social protections. This study argues for stronger regulation of aggregator platforms and recognition of gig workers' rights. The study concludes that as the gig economy continues to expand rapidly in India, ensuring fair working conditions and social security for this growing workforce is an urgent policy imperative.