GIG ECONOMY AND THE INDIAN LABOUR: EMPLOYMENT PATTERNS, PLATFORM REALITIES AND FUTURE SCENARIOS

Abstract

This study investigates the growth of the gig workforce of India, with 15 million gig workforce, accounting for 1.25 percentage of GDP and forecasted growth of 23.5 million by 2030 and 62 million by 2047, with a vision 2047 policy. Analysing with a mixed methods approach, using thematic coding of semi-structured interviews of 23 gig workers of Delhi finding seven themes (Economic stability, online platform policies, government policies, job security, flexibility of work, gig economy, and irregular work availability) along with demographic features the paper also integrates findings from Secondary sources of Periodic Labour Force Surveys, NITI Aayog, and International Labour Organisation Press releases. Simulation and Application of theoretical frameworks of Labour Process Theory (Algorithmic deskilling theory), Platform Capitalism (Data Mining theory), Dual Labour Market (Secondary segmentation theory), and Precarity theory, showing the ability of gig workers, ignores flexibility risk, and risk transferring theory, finding gig sharing increases risk with flexibility. November 2025 Labour Codes formalise the protection of gig workers through contributor contributions of 1-2 percentage turnover, improving job security and economic stability without changing job status, with implementation challenges. The conclusion shows that gig sharing does not displace conventional job formation, just like Oyer 2020, with varied gig worker forms, such as decreased productivity of aged workers. Theory Explanation questions conventional frameworks, and Managerial and Application parts suggest the need for HRM change towards adaptability, with Application parts emphasising the need for inclusivity.

Keywords

gig economy, indian labour market, platform work, labour codes, precarity, and economic stability.

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To cite this article

Nikhil Ruben Prasad, & Suchithra Devi, S. (2025). Gig Economy and the Indian Labour: Employment Patterns, Platform realities and Future scenarios. Sparkling International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Studies, 8(4), 1-15.