Gig work a full-time job for many in India, finds survey

Economy & Labour Reforms · 4 September 2026 · Based on The Hindu (original report)

2-minute summary

A nationwide survey by the NGO Janpahal, titled 'Occupational Safety and Health of Platform-based Gig Workers in India', reveals that gig work has transitioned into a full-time, long-term source of employment rather than a temporary side-income. Surveying 1,000 workers across 10 cities, the report highlights severe working conditions: nearly 57% of respondents work over 49 hours a week, and over 72% have remained on these platforms for more than a year. Gig workers face extreme occupational hazards, including high rates of road accidents (27%), lack of basic amenities (74.6% lack rest areas, and 53.8% must purchase their own drinking water), and widespread health issues like fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and respiratory illnesses. Despite these risks, 68.4% receive no health support from their platforms. The report calls for urgent legal recognition of gig workers, implementation of occupational safety standards, and statutory grievance mechanisms.

Why it's in the news

The NGO Janpahal released a comprehensive nationwide survey highlighting the severe occupational safety, health, and climate-related vulnerabilities faced by India's rapidly expanding platform-based gig workforce, challenging the industry narrative of gig work being merely flexible, part-time employment.

Background and context

The gig economy in India has grown exponentially, driven by high smartphone penetration, urban migration, and the rise of digital platforms in food delivery, ride-hailing, and e-commerce. While platforms market this model as offering 'flexibility' and 'entrepreneurship', labor advocates point out that it creates a highly precarious workforce lacking traditional employee benefits. The Code on Social Security, 2020, was the first federal legislative attempt to define and extend social security to gig and platform workers, but its rules are yet to be fully implemented nationwide. In 2023, Rajasthan became the first state to pass dedicated legislation—the Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act—to establish a welfare board and fund funded by a transaction-level cess. However, nationwide enforcement of safety, health, and fair wage standards remains highly fragmented.

Constitutional provisions

Article 21 — Right to life and personal liberty, which the Supreme Court has interpreted to include the right to livelihood and dignified working conditions.
Article 39(e) — Directive Principle directing the State to ensure that the health and strength of workers are not abused.
Article 42 — Directive Principle requiring the State to make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work.
Article 43 — Directive Principle urging the State to secure a living wage and decent standard of life for all workers.

Committees and reports

India's Booming Gig and Platform Economy (NITI Aayog) — Estimated that the gig workforce would grow to 2.35 crore by 2029-30 and recommended measures like fiscal incentives for platforms offering social security, and micro-insurance schemes.
Occupational Safety and Health of Platform-based Gig Workers in India (Janpahal Survey) — Provides empirical data on the long-term nature of gig work, excessive working hours, high accident rates, and the lack of basic workplace amenities.

Government schemes

Code on Social Security, 2020 — Framework to formulate social security schemes (including life, disability, and health benefits) for gig and platform workers through a National Social Security Board.
e-Shram Portal — A national database of unorganized workers, including gig and platform workers, to facilitate the targeted delivery of social security benefits.

International organisations

International Labour Organization (ILO) — Advocates for 'Decent Work' standards globally and has published reports highlighting the regulatory gaps and algorithmic management challenges in the global platform economy.

Previous UPSC questions on this theme

Mains GS-1 2021 — Examine the role of 'Gig Economy' in the process of empowerment of women in India.

Mains practice: The gig economy in India is transitioning from a flexible, part-time arrangement to a primary, long-term source of livelihood. Analyze the socio-economic and occupational challenges faced by gig workers and suggest policy measures to ensure safe and dignified working conditions.

The gig economy in India has emerged as a vital employment generator, projected by NITI Aayog to employ 2.35 crore workers by 2029-30. However, as highlighted by the 2026 Janpahal survey, gig work is no longer a temporary 'side-hustle' but a full-time, long-term occupation for over 70% of platform workers. This shift has exposed critical regulatory and welfare gaps.

### Socio-Economic and Occupational Challenges

• **Precarious Working Hours and Fatigue:** To earn a basic living, nearly 57% of gig workers work over 49 hours a week, and 23% exceed 70 hours. This leads to chronic fatigue, sleep disruption (64.5%), and mental stress.

• **Absence of Basic Workplace Amenities:** Unlike traditional workplaces, gig workers lack access to basic physical infrastructure. Over 74% have no access to rest areas, and a majority must pay for drinking water and public toilets.

• **High Occupational Hazards:** Delivery and ride-hailing partners face severe road safety risks, with 27% reporting traffic accidents. Outdoor exposure also leads to respiratory illnesses (26.5%) due to prolonged pollution exposure.

• **Exclusion from Social Security:** Classified as 'partners' rather than 'employees', gig workers are excluded from statutory benefits like provident fund, gratuity, and employee state insurance (ESI). Over 68% receive no health support from platforms.

### Way Forward and Policy Measures

• **Enforce the Code on Social Security, 2020:** The Union and State governments must expedite the framing of rules under the Code to operationalize the National Social Security Board and fund for gig workers.

• **Replicate State-Level Best Practices:** The Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Act, 2023, which mandates a welfare board and a transaction-based cess to fund social security, should serve as a model for other states.

• **Mandate Basic Physical Infrastructure:** Municipal bodies and digital platforms should collaborate to set up 'worker hubs' providing shaded rest areas, clean drinking water, and sanitation facilities.

• **Algorithmic Transparency and Fair Wages:** Regulators must ensure transparency in platform algorithms that determine payouts and work allocation, preventing arbitrary penalization and ensuring a guaranteed minimum floor wage.

### Conclusion

To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), India must balance technological innovation with labor welfare. Transitioning gig workers from precarious partners to legally protected, secure contributors is essential for inclusive economic growth.

Prelims practice questions

Q1. With reference to the Code on Social Security, 2020, consider the following statements: 1. It is the first central labor code in India to explicitly define 'gig workers' and 'platform workers'. 2. It mandates that platforms must contribute 1% to 2% of their annual turnover toward a social security fund, not exceeding 5% of the amount payable to gig workers. 3. The Code completely equates the legal status of gig workers with traditional employees regarding gratuity and provident fund benefits. Which of the statements given above are correct?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Answer: A. Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Code on Social Security, 2020, defines gig and platform workers and outlines a funding mechanism where aggregators contribute 1-2% of their annual turnover (not exceeding 5% of the amount paid/payable to gig/platform workers). Statement 3 is incorrect because the Code maintains a distinction between 'employees' and 'gig/platform workers', and does not extend traditional employee benefits like statutory gratuity and standard EPF to gig workers.

Q2. Which of the following states became the first in India to pass a dedicated legislation securing social security and establishing a welfare board specifically for platform-based gig workers?

Maharashtra
Karnataka
Rajasthan
Tamil Nadu

Answer: C. Rajasthan passed the 'Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act' in 2023, making it the first state in India to introduce dedicated legislation to register gig workers, set up a welfare board, and establish a social security fund funded by a welfare cess on platform transactions.

Q3. According to the NITI Aayog report 'India's Booming Gig and Platform Economy' (2022), what is the projected size of India's gig workforce by the year 2029-30?

1.25 crore (12.5 million)
2.35 crore (23.5 million)
3.50 crore (35.0 million)
5.00 crore (50.0 million)

Answer: B. The NITI Aayog report published in June 2022 estimated that the gig workforce in India would expand to 2.35 crore (23.5 million) by 2029-30, up from 77 lakh (7.7 million) in 2020-21.

Revision flashcards

How does the Code on Social Security, 2020 distinguish between a 'Gig Worker' and a 'Platform Worker'? A 'Gig Worker' performs work outside the traditional employer-employee relationship. A 'Platform Worker' specifically uses an online platform (digital intermediary) to connect with customers and perform services.
What was the key finding of the 2026 Janpahal survey regarding the working hours of gig workers in India? Nearly 57% of surveyed gig workers work more than 49 hours a week, and almost 23% work over 70 hours a week, highlighting that gig work is a full-time, high-intensity job.
What funding mechanism does the Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Act, 2023 use to finance social security? It levies a welfare fee/cess (a percentage of each transaction) on the aggregator platforms, which is pooled into a dedicated Gig Workers Social Security and Welfare Fund.
Which DPSP (Directive Principle of State Policy) under Article 42 of the Indian Constitution is directly relevant to the Janpahal survey's findings on gig workers? Article 42 mandates that the State shall make provision for securing 'just and humane conditions of work', which directly relates to the survey's focus on occupational safety, rest areas, and sanitation.
What percentage of gig workers surveyed by Janpahal reported receiving no health-related support from their platforms? 68.4% of the surveyed platform workers reported receiving no health-related support from the platforms they work for.