An Economic and Legal Analysis of Gig Economy in India and Future Growth Potentials

A Case Study of Food Delivery Platforms

Abstract

This study is an attempt to highlight the emergence and growth of new employment opportunities in the form of gig-economy workers. No doubt, some form of gig work was always present in any economy but with the introduction of technology-based apps, it has heralded new job avenues creating a paradigm shift in employment scenario benefitting both the employers and employees. Though it is quite early to predict the productivity gains and incremental consumption possibilities but with the increasing trend of workforce favouring the service sector, the gig work far from being a ‘stop-gap’ arrangement during Covid times is now going to be a permanent ‘ever-stay’ option in India and worldwide. The Global Gig Economy Index-2020 has already ranked India among top ten countries, outsourcing its professionals. However, a case study made on the status of food delivery workers engaged in Swiggy and Zomato on the basis of secondary sources of data of reputed organisations reveals the deplorable conditions that they are in and calls for strengthening the institutional mechanism in this area if India really wants to harness the gig economy potentials.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46700/asssr/2023/v5/i1/223400