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Paper short abstract:

This paper examines platform workers in India. It analyzes the existing regulatory framework in India and draws from legal developments across the world to propose strategies for improving conditions of work in the platform economy in India while supporting business innovation.

Paper long abstract:

The proliferation of non-standard work arrangements is a common global theme including, in India. The swift expansion of the gig economy in India, the world's most populous country, has created new opportunities for employment but also poses significant regulatory challenges. This paper critically examines India’s legal landscape within which the platform economy operates, particularly focusing on issues like worker classification, algorithmic management, social protection, unfair dismissal among others.

Using a qualitative approach, the paper draws on the legal developments and experiences, exploring how other countries have approached the regulation of gig work. It analyzes the different legal responses to platform work across the global north and south, identifying successful strategies and areas where India’s legal framework may require adaptation or reform.

The study highlights the precarity of gig work, especially in India’s largely informal labor market, and the limited protections available to workers. It also evaluates the role of labor unions, cooperatives, and collective bargaining efforts in improving the conditions of platform workers. By drawing on case studies and legal models, the paper suggests potential reforms to enhance worker protections while fostering the growth of the gig economy.

This paper contributes by providing valuable insights seeking to balance the opportunities of the gig economy with necessary legal protections for workers in India.