Gig worker crisis following reduced earnings and flexibility points to need for legal protection
The lack of robust laws for the sector has meant that women especially have to struggle to remain in the workforce and earn a livelihood.
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In June, Bengaluru witnessed a protest by aggregator platform Urban Company’s women workers in the beauty segment, categorised as “partners” or “independent contractors” by the gig economy.
The protest mostly stemmed from the company’s decision to bring in new terms of service without consulting workers which impacted their ability to remain flexible, a much touted benefit reiterated by the gig economy. Later the same month, following along the lines of Rajasthan’s legislation that was passed in July 2023, the state government invited suggestions on the Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2024.
Varsha*, a beautician with the platform for over four years, was worried after her access to the platform – or her “ID” – was blocked when IndiaSpend met her in mid-July. A veteran with experience of more than a decade, she had earlier run a salon which she was forced to shut due to the Covid-19 lockdown and reduced footfalls. Now a gig worker, she was not sure how long she could sustain given the company’s decision to auto-assign jobs on behalf of workers without their approval or choice.
“We do not [presently] get leave like employees do. I had a few cancellations due to health and personal reasons, and now I have been blocked,”...
