New Delhi: In an era dominated by online marketplaces and instant services, gig workers have emerged as the invisible backbone of urban life. Without them, concepts like “10-minute delivery” or “one-click convenience” would be unimaginable. These young workers deliver essentials door-to-door in every season, at all hours, and often at great personal risk. Yet, the irony is stark: those whose labor sustains the towering edifice of the digital economy are also the ones facing the greatest insecurity, exploitation, and neglect.
The recent nationwide strike by gig workers on the eve of the New Year may not have completely disrupted supply chains, but it did succeed in drawing attention to their harsh working conditions. Far from being politically motivated, the protest was a natural response to mounting work pressure, declining earnings, job uncertainty, and a lack of dignity and respect.
Gig workers are frequently seen speeding through city streets on motorcycles, carrying heavy bags and racing against unforgiving deadlines. A minor delay can result in financial penalties, while accidents, illness, or technical glitches directly impact their income. Customer behavior often adds to their distress—verbal abuse over delays, humiliation over perceived shortcomings, poor ratings that affect future earnings, and, at times, even violent behavior. Despite working 12 to 14 hours a day, many earn barely ₹700–800 daily, without adequate insurance or social security—an unmistakable sign of systemic exploitation.
Gig workers operate outside traditional employment structures. They perform short-term, task-based jobs through digital platforms such as Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, and others, receiving payment per assignment rather than a fixed salary. While they are labeled as “independent contractors,” they are denied benefits such as health insurance, pensions, and job security. Income uncertainty, long working hours, low pay, and frequent disputes over wages define their professional lives.
India’s gig economy has demonstrated its capacity for job creation. Today, over 12.5 million gig workers are estimated to be active in the country, a number projected to rise to more than 23 million by 2030. However, for many educated youth facing unemployment, gig work is not a choice but a compulsion. In a nation that prides itself on its demographic dividend, the entrapment of educated youth in insecure and undignified work arrangements is both alarming and shameful. It reflects development policies focused on employment numbers rather than job quality.
A key paradox of the gig economy lies in the relationship between companies and workers. Platforms extract maximum productivity while refusing to acknowledge a formal employer-employee relationship. By labeling workers as “independent,” companies evade responsibilities related to minimum wages, insurance, and long-term stability. Algorithm-based control, rating systems, incentive traps, and hire-and-fire practices create an illusion of freedom while exerting tight control over workers’ livelihoods.
Even during strikes, companies often weaken worker solidarity by offering temporary incentives or increasing order volumes. The record-breaking order volumes registered by a major food delivery platform on December 31 highlighted this contradiction. Meanwhile, the issue of gig worker exploitation has begun to gain traction in Parliament, with leaders such as Raghav Chadha and Manoj Kumar Jha raising concerns—a welcome step, as meaningful reform is impossible without including workers’ voices in policymaking.
Recent labor reforms by the Indian government have, for the first time, legally recognized gig and platform workers. Provisions such as mandatory contributions by aggregator companies to a social security fund and Aadhaar-linked universal account numbers are long-awaited measures. However, the real question remains: will these reforms translate into tangible improvements, or will they remain confined to paper? Without assured minimum income, regulated working hours, accident and health insurance, and effective grievance redressal mechanisms, these reforms cannot be deemed transformative.
Although the December 31 strike may not have been entirely successful in operational terms, it was morally and socially justified. It sought not to disrupt the system but to expose the injustice and hypocrisy embedded within it. Gig workers sent a clear message: they are not merely “delivery partners,” but hardworking citizens whose rights can no longer be ignored.
The future of the digital economy is inconceivable without gig workers. Policymakers, companies, and consumers alike must reflect on their roles. Companies must balance profit with responsibility, governments must ensure strict enforcement of labor laws, and consumers must pair convenience with empathy. Treating gig workers solely as tools of convenience, without ensuring dignity, security, and stability, would represent not just a labor crisis but a failure of our development vision.
The true test of Digital India lies in how it treats its fastest-moving workforce. Gig work must no longer be viewed as informal or expendable labor but recognized as organized, dignified employment. Fair wages, safe working conditions, and social security are not acts of charity—they are fundamental rights. Without sensitivity and accountability, digital growth cannot be sustainable. If developed with dignity and protection, gig work can evolve from a symbol of compulsion into a humane and exemplary employment model—one where convenience benefits consumers and respect uplifts workers alike.
