Gig Economy

Why Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon delivery partners are on strike on Dec 25, 31

According to the worker unions, gig workers are demanding clear and fair pay systems and the withdrawal of "10-minute delivery" models, which they say put lives at risk

Food delivery platforms employed 1.37 million in FY24, says NCAER

For every ₹10 lakh of output generated on such platforms, output yielded for the economy is ₹20.5 lakh

India's food delivery sector generated ₹1.2 trn output in FY24: Report

Direct employment by the sector increased to 1.37 million in 2023-24 from 1.08 million workers in 2021-22

Drone delivery could make a big impact in India: Geodnet cofounder

Network offers cm-level accuracy for autonomous vehicles and drones; plans local hardware production and rural coverage expansion

EPFO pension and PF cover to self-employed, gig staff? Here's what we know

The Centre reportedly is planning to ask EPFO to design new provident fund and pension schemes for self-employed and gig workers under the Social Security Code, offering flexible contributions

From margins to mainstream: Gig workers finally get formal safety net

The newly notified labour codes represent a transformative and historic reform for India's gig economy, finally bringing this vast segment of workers under formal regulatory recognition and social security. For the delivery partner dropping off groceries or the driver navigating city traffic, this move signals the end of legal invisibility, transitioning them from the fringes of the "unorganised" sector into a formal social security net. The introduction of uniform employment rights, mandatory appointment letters, and access to benefits such as provident funds, ESIC, and insurance has laid a new foundation for stability and predictability for millions of gig and platform workers across India, experts say. However, the implementation poses operational challenges owing to the fluid and varied nature of gig work, requiring robust compliance mechanisms and behavioural adaptations from both platform companies and workers. "For the first time, this rapidly expanding segment of the ...

Dialogue among employers, workers key as labour codes take effect: ILO DG

International Labour Organization Director-General Gilbert F Houngbo has said social dialogue among government employers and workers will remain essential as the labour codes are implemented to ensure they are positive for workers and business. In a post on X, he said: "Following with interest developments of India's new Labour Codes announced today, including on social protection & minimum wages." In a landmark overhaul of labour laws, the government on Friday notified all four labour codes, ushering in major reforms, including universal social security coverage for gig workers, mandatory appointment letters for all employees, and statutory minimum wages and timely payment across sectors. Meanwhile, reacting to the labour codes, Sajja Praveen Chowdary, Director, Policybazaar for Business said making annual health checks mandatory for employees above 40 years marks an important shift in how organisations view workforce wellbeing. In the long run, this alignment of policy and ...

Labour codes will boost social security access for gig workers: Eternal

Eternal Ltd on Saturday welcomed the implementation of the four labour codes, which it said will help strengthen the social security access for gig workers, including for it Zomato and Blinkit businesses. In a regulatory filing, Eternal, the parent entity of Zomato and Blinkit said it does not think the financial impact on account of these rules will be detrimental to long-term health and sustainability of its business. The government on Friday notified the four labour codes, which have rationalised 29 existing labour laws. These will formalise employment, strengthen worker protection, and make the labour ecosystem simpler, safer and globally aligned. The four labour codes are -- the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. Under the new codes, 'gig work', 'platform work', and 'aggregators' have been defined for the first time. The codes stipulate that aggregat

Zomato, Swiggy to give up to 2% yearly turnover for welfare of gig workers

Food delivery and quick commerce platforms like Zomato, Swiggy and Zepto must now contribute up to 2 per cent of their turnover for gig and platform worker welfare

Centre pushes labour reforms, notifies codes; draft rules out soon

Govt to soon put draft rules in public domain for consultation

China can't afford to ignore its army of gig workers amid job crunch

A bestselling memoir exposes the harsh reality of China's delivery workforce and why policymakers must prioritise protections as the economy pivots to high tech

Govt enforces four labour codes; rationalises 29 existing labour laws

The Centre has brought all four Labour Codes into force from November 21, rationalising 29 old laws to improve worker welfare, and simplify rules for businesses

'Illegal, unsafe': Karnataka govt panel urges continuation of bike-taxi ban

Karnataka's expert panel has backed the continued ban on bike taxis, calling them illegal, unsafe and outside the Motor Vehicles Act

Australian fintech MyGigsters expands to India to power the future of work

Backed by major investors and strategic partners, the company aims to help 10 million independent workers access financial security by 2030

BC network faces heat from qcom platforms as agents take up gig work

The business correspondent banking channel is facing attrition as agents are leaving over declining commissions, despite bringing in more new deposits than branches

Festive hiring in India rises 17% as gig, temporary jobs surge: Report

Overall hiring volumes grew by 17 per cent year-on-year across key consumption-linked sectors during the August-October period, driven by heightened consumer sentiment, attractive festive promotions, and wider geographic penetration, according to a report. According to the report by workforce solutions provider Adecco India, there was a 25 per cent surge in gig and temporary jobs compared to the same period in 2024. The report, based on an analysis of internal data and external reports, noted that the weeks leading up to Dussehra and beyond saw a sharp rise in temporary staffing across retail, e-commerce, BFSI, logistics, and hospitality. Adecco had projected 2.16 lakh gig and temporary jobs in 2025, and within just three months, the industry has seen 37 per cent growth in temporary hiring and 15-20 per cent uptick in deployment of gig workers, underscoring the strength of seasonal demand. "India's festive hiring this year reflects both economic confidence and the growing maturity

Swiggy board okays plan to raise ₹10K cr via public, private offers

Swiggy's board has cleared a proposal to raise up to Rs 10,000 crore through QIP and other routes to fund growth in its quick commerce business and strengthen financial reserves

IFAT urges govt to implement social security framework for gig workers

Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT) has urged Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya for immediate implementation of social security framework for gig and platform workers under the Code on Social Security (CoSS), 2020. IFAT stated in a letter to Mandaviya earlier this week, that more than 2 crore app-based workers, including drivers, delivery personnel, and home-service providers, continue to work without formal rights, minimum safety nets, or institutional support, even though they form the backbone of India's growing digital economy. According to the IFAT letter, the CoSS, 2020 was the first legislation in India to formally recognise gig and platform workers and provide a statutory framework for their welfare, including life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, and old-age protection. However, even after five years of this major reform, no concrete welfare scheme has been operationalised, leaving gig and platform workers without

Equal work, unequal pay: Wage gap persists among gig workers, says report

Even as festive hiring for the year surged, wage parity between gig and permanent employees remained unresolved, with 47 per cent of respondents believing there is a pay gap, a report has revealed. When asked how the hourly pay of gig or freelance workers compares to that of permanent employees for the same role, 11 per cent respondents said earnings were up to 10 per cent less, 23 per cent said wages were 10-25 per cent lower and 13 per cent revealed the gap exceeds 25 per cent, according to the report by Genius HRTech (formerly Genius Consultants). Collectively, the report found that nearly half of the workforce -- 47 per cent -- believe gig workers are paid less than their permanent counterparts, revealing a persistent disparity that continues to shadow India's festive hiring landscape. The report by workforce staffing services and HR Solutions provider is based on a Digipoll survey among 1,550 professionals across industries during September 1-30, 2025. "The festive economy ...

Labour reform 2.0: India's digital blueprint for jobs and inclusion

To harness this shift, the Shram Shakti Niti draft outlines a series of interventions to bridge the divide between skill and opportunity