The new work culture of the Gig Economy

Abstract

India has a sizable population that engages in the gig economy, which is supported by a developing digital platform. The gigs consist of temporary, freelance, or sharing economy positions. But the gig economy is expanding as a result of the epidemic and the growing trend of working from home. There is no sign that it will slow down when it integrates into the larger economy. It is the outcome of a sizable technological, artificial intelligence, and machine learning progress. As of 2019, some of the most popular platforms in India include Zomato, Swiggy, Uber, BigBasket, and Foodpanda. In 1920, musicians who received payment for their performances popularised the phrase "gig economy." Startups started creating websites and apps in the 1990s with the introduction of Internet services. Finally, the gig economy underwent fresh developments and alterations when Uber was introduced in 2010. Gig workers, often referred to as independent contractors or on-call workers, sign a formal contract with on-demand businesses in order to offer services to the businesses' clients. The gig economy, which has currently given the majority of India's young jobs in the form of part-time or fulltime labour, is supported and acknowledged by the Indian government. In order to boost social services during the epidemic, the federal and state governments negotiated memorandums of understanding (MOU) with a number of gig platforms. The gig economy's greatest benefit is that it promotes job growth, entrepreneurship, and skill development. Ola and Uber have poor gig-work circumstances, whereas Flipkart ranks highest in India for fair work. The fair work India grade is based on fair compensation, fair conditions, fair contracts, fair management, and fair representation. Due to allowances and low compensation, gig workers in India have had to overcome several obstacles and put in an extra 8 to 9 hours of work each day in order to make ends meet. There is minimal to no job security and little perks compared to other employment in the sector.