THE GIG ECONOMY: REDEFINING WORK IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Abstract

The Gig economy has emerged as a transformative force in the labour market, driven by technological advancements and changing workforce preferences. Now-a-days it has changed the nature of work and labour relations between employer-employee relationship. For this, a new variety of workers have emerged known as gig workers which are the highest contributors of the country’s economy and accelerated the economy at a higher pace. Interestingly, factors like skill power, education, family background, place of residence etc. are not a bar for employment. Gig workers, characterized by their engagement in short-term, flexible jobs facilitated by digital platforms, represent a significant departure from traditional employment models. The individuals are introduced with various platforms which offer these works like Urban Company, Ola, Uber, Zomato, Zepto, Otipy, Blinkit etc. Though there is significant rise in the gig workers but serious issues were raised regarding their nature of employment and income stability. This article attempts to delineate the historical background, growth of gig economy, outline the characteristics of their work including its flexibility, diverse opportunities and income variability. Further, the legislative provisions mentioned under Code on Social Security, 2020 and other initiatives taken for their protection, the challenges faced in implementation and the recommendations for effective enhancement were discussed in the latter part. This piece of work concludes by reflecting on the evolving nature of work and the importance of developing responsive policies to support the growing gig workforce.