Gig employees demand base pay and social security benefits

Who are gig economy workers?

The World Economic Forum describes the gig economy as temporary, task-oriented jobs enabled by online platforms that link workers to clients.

In India, gig workers are viewed as “self-employed,” and there is a growing involvement of women.

Gig work encompasses online tasks such as content creation and software development, as well as location-specific services like driving and food delivery via platforms like Ola and Zomato.

Gig workers earn money based on completed tasks, benefiting from flexible schedules beyond the conventional 9-to-5 framework.

Connected Procedures

The 2025 Union Budget implemented measures to officially acknowledge gig and platform workers and broadened social protection programs for them.

The Code on Social Security, 2020, legally categorized gig and platform workers as individuals involved in unconventional employer-employee relationships.

Recent efforts such as e-Shram registration, digital ID issuance, and health coverage via Ayushman Bharat demonstrate the government’s acknowledgment of gig workers.

Difficulties

The updated Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025 has not introduced substantial alterations to effectively represent the varied characteristics of gig and platform employment.

Although forecasts predict that the gig workforce will rise to 23.5 million by 2029-30, India's primary labor survey continues to classify gig workers into general categories such as 'self-employed' or 'casual labor,' resulting in their statistical obscurity.

The absence of distinct classification obstructs efficient policy formulation and fair access to social security programs created under the Code, like the Social Security Fund and National Social Security Board, both of which rely on precise data for comprehensive welfare strategy.

Conclusion and Future Directions

The 2025 PLFS revision enhanced sample size and rural representation; it remains unclear in defining or capturing gig work.

For inclusive policymaking, India could modify PLFS classifications or introduce targeted modules for gig workers.

Governments and platforms need to work together to establish explicit legal safeguards and provide customized social security options such as health and retirement plans.