For gig workers, labour rights and benefits remain elusive in India

Workers are looking to the Budget to ensure that the promises made to protect their labour rights are finally implemented

The recent protests by employees of Urban Company and the case of a  a Zomato delivery executive who died in a road accident point to the severely straitened condition of gig workers during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. 

Budget 2021 had promised several measures to help the cause of gig economy workers, but most of them are yet to see the light of day. Even after a year, the country’s gig workers continue to be without any social security cover or a minimum wage guarantee. 

“In Budget 2021, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced that the government is looking toward including migrant and