Centre must come in support of gig workers with timely initiatives

Gig economy is growing. The staggering growth of gig economy platforms and the workers associated with it has brought into sharp focus several aspects of the future of work. An increasingly larger number of gig workers in India seem to be satisfied with their experience of working in the gig economy. The increasing interest to join this emerging sector and remain in the sector can be attributed to high earning potential, flexibility of schedule and desire for independence.

There is no doubt whatsoever that the gig economy, which is all but a labour market characterized by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work as opposed to permanent jobs, has emerged as a game-changer in the world of work. Gig delivery workers play a prominent role in the economy ensuring seamless delivery of goods across categories for various tech-enabled businesses. India’s growing network of gig delivery workers, is estimated to be around 7.7 million and is expected to increase to 23.5 million by 2029-30.

Going by a recent study by Ipsos Research Private Limited (Ipsos), the largest market research and polling companies globally, operating in 90+ markets and employing over 19,000 people, 84 per cent of gig workers in India are satisfied with their experience of working in the gig economy. High earning potential (29 per cent), flexibility of schedule (27 per cent), and desire for independence (24 per cent), stand out as the top motivators for gig workers to join the sector.

This has to be seen in light of a recent study by Boston Consulting Group, which suggested that India’s gig workforce already comprises 15 million workers employed across industries such as software, shared services and professional services. These workers are working across platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Uber, Ola, InDrive, Rapido, Amazon, Flipkart, Zepto, BigBasket, and Dunzo, across six of the top metro cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad. As high as 65 per cent of the gig workers claimed they started working in the Gig economy over the last 3 years.

Quite interestingly, one-third of the gig workers in the country claim that gig work provided them the opportunity to move from their hometown to a bigger city. Need for low investment to begin earning (26 per cent) was the next most favored positive aspect of gig work. Nearly 18 per cent of surveyed gig workers also value that platform-based work has helped them sustain their family which would have been tougher in absence of such work.

With the Gig Economy growing and progressing at such a rapid pace, the government, on its parts, needs to play a crucial role to play in this whole exercise. For instance, the government may think in terms of investing in education and training programmes for gig workers to improve their skills. Some initiatives may also be taken to encourage innovation in the gig economy by providing tax incentives, funding and other support to companies that are creating new business models and technologies. There is also a need to build the right physical and social infrastructure that supports the engagement of women in the gig workforce and the government may actively look into that aspect.

And mind you that Gig work happens to be the primary source of income for a whopping 88 per cent of gig workers and these earnings are sufficient to sustain their livelihood. The government, therefore, must rise to the occasion. The sooner the better.