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Paper short abstract

Digital platforms have transformed gig work in India, altering employment patterns and demographics while enhancing the economy. In this workshop, I aim to provide a thorough understanding of the evolving gig economy and its implications for India's workforce and overall economic landscape.

Paper long abstract

Technology has significantly reshaped the structure of work and employment relationships in the 21st century, introducing new paradigms that were nearly inconceivable a decade ago. In India, the emergence and rapid proliferation of digital platforms have revolutionized access to work opportunities and contributed substantially to the expansion of the gig economy. With more than 750 million internet users and over 500 million smartphone users as of 2023, India has become one of the most dynamic markets for digital labor platforms. Services such as Uber, Ola, Swiggy, Zomato, Urban Company, and Freelancer have facilitated participation in flexible, on-demand work, allowing individuals to engage in task-based employment across various sectors including transportation, food delivery, and home services.

This study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining both secondary literature and primary data collected from 80 gig workers in the Delhi NCR region through structured questionnaires. The survey offers insights into the socio-economic profile of platform workers, their reasons for joining the gig economy, and the challenges they face in day-to-day operations. Findings from the primary data indicate that while gig work offers advantages such as flexible working hours, ease of entry, and supplemental income, it also imposes substantial constraints. These include income volatility, absence of employment security, lack of social protections, and long working hours. A considerable portion of respondents were from marginalized communities, including students and residents of informal settlements, who engage in gig work as a secondary or survival-based income strategy.

Keywords: Gig workers, Economy, Digital Platforms, Employment, India, Online Labor Market.