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31 Dec 2025·Source: The Hindu
2 min
Social IssuesEconomyPolity & GovernanceNEWS

Gig Workers Strike Against Exploitation, Demanding Better Rights and Social Security

Gig workers nationwide strike today, demanding better working conditions and social security benefits.

Gig Workers Strike Against Exploitation, Demanding Better Rights and Social Security

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Platform workers, including those from various gig economy services, are set to go on strike today to protest alleged exploitation. Their demands include better working conditions, fair wages, and social security benefits, highlighting the growing concerns about the lack of protections for workers in the burgeoning gig economy. This strike underscores the challenges faced by informal workers and the need for comprehensive policy frameworks to address their rights and welfare, a critical issue for social justice and labor reforms in India.

Key Facts

1.

Platform workers (gig workers) are going on strike.

2.

Protest against alleged exploitation.

3.

Demands include better working conditions, fair wages, and social security.

UPSC Exam Angles

1.

Definition and classification of gig workers vs. traditional employees.

2.

Provisions of the new Labour Codes (especially Code on Social Security, 2020) concerning gig and platform workers.

3.

Constitutional provisions related to labor welfare and social security (DPSP).

4.

Challenges of informalization of the economy and its impact on social justice.

5.

Role of technology in transforming labor markets and the need for adaptive policy.

6.

Comparison with international best practices and ILO conventions.

Visual Insights

India's Gig Economy: Scale & Social Security Gap (2025 Estimates)

This dashboard highlights the significant growth of India's gig economy and the persistent challenge of providing social security to its workers, underscoring the urgency behind recent strikes.

Estimated Gig Workers
~1.5 Crore+25% (CAGR 2021-25)

The gig workforce has seen exponential growth, making it a critical segment of India's labor market. This figure is a projection based on NITI Aayog's 2022 report which estimated 2.35 Cr by 2029-30.

Share of Non-Agri Workforce
~3.5%+0.9% (from 2020-21)

While seemingly small, this percentage represents millions of workers and a rapidly expanding sector, contributing significantly to urban employment.

Gig Workers with Formal Social Security
<10%Stable (low)

Despite the Code on Social Security 2020, actual implementation and coverage for gig workers remain low, highlighting the core grievance of the striking workers.

State-level Welfare Acts
1 (Rajasthan)New (2023)

Rajasthan's pioneering act is a landmark, but the lack of similar laws in other major gig hubs leaves most workers unprotected.

Gig Economy Hubs & Policy Initiatives in India (2025)

This map illustrates key urban centers with high gig worker activity, where strikes are more likely to occur, and highlights states that have initiated specific welfare legislation for platform workers.

Loading interactive map...

📍Delhi📍Mumbai📍Bengaluru📍Hyderabad📍Chennai📍Jaipur (Rajasthan)
More Information

Background

The gig economy, characterized by short-term contracts or freelance work, has rapidly expanded globally, including in India. While offering flexibility and income opportunities, it often lacks traditional employment benefits like social security, minimum wage, and job security. This has led to growing concerns about worker exploitation and the need for robust policy frameworks.

Latest Developments

Gig workers across various platforms are striking to demand better working conditions, fair wages, and comprehensive social security benefits. This highlights the ongoing struggle to define the employment status of gig workers and extend labor protections to this burgeoning segment of the workforce. India has introduced the Code on Social Security, 2020, which attempts to include gig and platform workers, but its implementation and scope remain a subject of debate.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

1. With reference to the Code on Social Security, 2020, consider the following statements: 1. It defines 'gig worker' as a person who performs work or participates in a work arrangement and earns from such activities outside of a traditional employer-employee relationship. 2. 'Platform worker' is defined as a person engaged in an occupation where services are provided to a client through a digital platform. 3. The Code mandates that all gig and platform workers must be provided with social security benefits equivalent to those available to regular employees. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 and 2 only
  • B.2 and 3 only
  • C.1 and 3 only
  • D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Answer: A

Statements 1 and 2 correctly define 'gig worker' and 'platform worker' as per the Code on Social Security, 2020. However, statement 3 is incorrect. The Code *envisages* social security for gig and platform workers, but it does not mandate benefits *equivalent* to regular employees. Instead, it empowers the Central Government to formulate schemes for them, which may or may not be equivalent, and often involves contributions from the workers, aggregators, and the government, rather than a direct mandate for equivalence.

2. In the context of the demands for better rights and social security for gig workers, which of the following Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are most directly relevant? 1. To secure for all workers a living wage and conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life (Article 43). 2. To promote equal justice and provide free legal aid (Article 39A). 3. To make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief (Article 42). 4. To raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health (Article 47). Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • A.1 and 2 only
  • B.1 and 3 only
  • C.1, 3 and 4 only
  • D.1, 2, 3 and 4
Show Answer

Answer: B

Statement 1 (Article 43 - living wage, decent standard of life) and Statement 3 (Article 42 - just and humane conditions of work, maternity relief) are directly relevant to the demands of gig workers for better working conditions, fair wages, and social security. Statement 2 (Article 39A - equal justice, free legal aid) is generally relevant to social justice but less directly tied to the specific demands of working conditions and social security benefits. Statement 4 (Article 47 - nutrition, standard of living, public health) is a broader welfare principle, but less directly focused on the 'worker rights' aspect of the strike.

3. Consider the following statements regarding the nature of employment in the gig economy: 1. Gig workers are typically classified as 'employees' under traditional labor laws, entitling them to all statutory benefits. 2. The 'platform economy' primarily refers to work arrangements facilitated by digital platforms that connect service providers with consumers. 3. A key challenge for gig workers is the lack of a clear employer-employee relationship, which complicates the application of existing labor protections. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 and 2 only
  • B.2 and 3 only
  • C.3 only
  • D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Answer: B

Statement 1 is incorrect. Gig workers are generally *not* classified as 'employees' under traditional labor laws. They are often considered independent contractors, which is precisely why they lack many statutory benefits and are demanding better rights. Statement 2 correctly describes the platform economy. Statement 3 accurately identifies a core challenge for gig workers, as the ambiguity of their employment status makes it difficult to apply existing labor laws designed for traditional employment.

4. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic feature of the 'informal sector' in India, to which many gig workers are often compared or categorized? A) Lack of formal registration with government authorities. B) Absence of social security benefits and regulated working hours. C) Predominance of small-scale, often family-owned enterprises. D) High degree of unionization and collective bargaining power.

  • A.A
  • B.B
  • C.C
  • D.D
Show Answer

Answer: D

The informal sector is characterized by a *low* degree of unionization and collective bargaining power, making workers vulnerable. Options A, B, and C are all characteristic features of the informal sector. Gig workers, while often operating through digital platforms, share many vulnerabilities with the traditional informal sector, such as lack of social security and regulated working conditions, and often struggle with collective bargaining due to their 'independent contractor' status.

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