The Gig Rights Revolution in India

Unveiling the Invisible Worker: the Gig Rights Revolution in India

Gig workers are individuals who perform short-term, contractual tasks through digital platforms that act as intermediaries. Unlike traditional employees, they are not bound by long-term contracts or fixed salaries. Instead, each task or assignment represents a separate contractual relationship. This arrangement provides flexibility but deprives them of basic employment rights such as health insurance, social security benefits, paid leave, fixed wages, and job stability. The absence of these protections highlights the precarious nature of gig work and underscores the need for a legal framework that recognizes and safeguards their rights.

The Indian gig economy is vast and growing rapidly. It contributes significantly to GDP and employs a large portion of the labor force. Estimates suggest that gig and platform workers form a considerable share of India’s workforce, making them critical to the functioning of urban and semi-urban economies. Despite their importance, gig workers remain excluded from formal recognition under existing labor laws. Their invisibility in the legal system perpetuates vulnerabilities, leaving them exposed to exploitation, inconsistent earnings, and lack of recourse in disputes.

The central issue facing gig workers in India is their exclusion from the definition of “worker” under existing labor and social security frameworks. This exclusion denies them access to protections such as minimum wage guarantees, workplace safety standards, and social welfare schemes. Without legal recognition, gig workers are unable to claim rights that traditional employees take for granted. This invisibility creates a structural imbalance, where platforms benefit from labor flexibility while workers bear the risks of uncertainty and instability.

The growing visibility of gig workers has sparked calls for reform. Advocates argue that gig workers should be included within the ambit of labor protections, ensuring access to minimum wage standards, social security schemes, health and accident insurance, retirement benefits, and collective bargaining rights. The gig rights revolution in India is not just about legal recognition; it is about redefining the relationship between labor and technology. As digital platforms continue to expand, the demand for equitable treatment of gig workers becomes increasingly urgent.

For India to fully embrace the gig economy while safeguarding worker rights, a comprehensive legal framework is essential. Such a framework should recognize gig workers as part of the labor force, establish minimum standards for pay and working conditions, provide access to social security and healthcare benefits, ensure transparency in algorithmic management, and create mechanisms for dispute resolution and collective representation. By integrating these elements, India can move towards a more inclusive labor system that balances flexibility with fairness.

The future of gig work in India lies at the intersection of law, technology, and social justice. As the gig economy continues to expand, the need to protect workers from exploitation becomes more pressing. Policymakers, platforms, and civil society must collaborate to create systems that empower gig workers rather than marginalize them. This revolution is not about dismantling the gig economy but about ensuring that it evolves responsibly. By recognizing gig workers as legitimate contributors to the economy and extending protections to them, India can set a global precedent in labor reform.

Gig workers are the invisible backbone of India’s digital economy. They deliver services, enable convenience, and contribute significantly to national growth, yet remain excluded from the protections of formal labor law. The gig rights revolution in India seeks to change this by demanding recognition, fairness, and security. Invisible no more, gig workers represent the future of labor. Their rights, protections, and dignity must be central to India’s evolving economic landscape.

The gig economy thrives on flexibility, but true progress lies in fairness and recognition.

What are gig workers, Anyway?

Gig workers, also known as platform workers, are individuals who take on short-term contractual jobs facilitated by digital platforms that act as aggregators. Unlike traditional employees who are bound by employer-employee relationships, gig workers operate under a contractual arrangement where each task or order represents a separate contract. This structure allows them to enjoy flexibility in working hours but simultaneously deprives them of basic employment rights such as health insurance, social security, paid leave, fixed salaries, and job stability.

The gig economy in India is vast, contributing significantly to national growth and employing a large portion of the labor force. Estimates suggest that gig and platform workers form a substantial share of India’s workforce, making them critical to the functioning of urban and semi-urban economies. Despite their importance, gig workers remain excluded from formal recognition under existing labor and social security frameworks. This exclusion renders them invisible in the eyes of the law, perpetuating vulnerabilities and leaving them exposed to exploitation, inconsistent earnings, and lack of recourse in disputes.

What’s Changed Since 2021? The Current Legal Status in 2025

Fast-forward to 2025, and things are moving, but slowly. The Supreme Court case (WP (C) 1068/2021) is still pending. The last big update was in February 2025, when the court urged the government to speed up the 2020 Code. Hearings continue, with the government defending itself by pointing to the e-Shram portal, a free registration system for unorganized workers, including gig folks. Over 30 crore people have signed up, including 3.37 lakh gig workers, to access schemes like accident insurance.

The Code on Social Security, 2020 finally kicked in, creating a special category for “gig workers” and “platform workers.” Companies must contribute 1-2% of their turnover to a social security fund for things like health benefits and old-age protection for such workers. But full rules aren’t out yet, so it’s not helping everyone. Since the center’s dragging its feet, states are stepping up. The state of Karnataka passed an ordinance in May 2025 for gig worker welfare, including a fund from company fees. While Telangana, Jharkhand, and others have similar bills demanding fair wages and job security. And Maharashtra is planning to bring them under social security too. Even the 2025 Union Budget mentioned gig workers, but it was highly criticized as official data still misses many of them, with only about 23% covered. As of today, Gig workers aren’t fully “employees” yet, so no automatic rights like minimum wage or firing protection. And Unions like IFAT are pushing for better recognition, but 77% still lack social security. The law sees them as a “distinct category” without reclassifying them as employees.