Flexibility, Vulnerability, and Inclusiveness in the Gig Economy: A Review of India's Experience in the Context of Informalisation

Abstract

The emergence of the gig economy, with the growth of technology and increased use of digital solutions, has been transforming the nature of work and its organisation in different ways. The differences in technical infrastructure, access to the internet, availability of cloud computing, and ownership of digital devices influence how countries manage this transition. Besides promoting economic growth and employment opportunities, the expansion of gig work offers wider possibilities for addressing some of the structural problems that the Indian economy has faced in recent years. In this chapter, we review the nature of the gig economy in the context of informalisation, flexibility, and vulnerability associated with gig work. In many contexts, gig workers are neither formal nor informal; they are independent contractors, enjoying no benefits as formal or informal workers do. We explore the links between gig workers and those workers engaged in the informal economy; both operate with a certain degree of flexibility but are vulnerable to many risks associated with occupation, health, and social problems. The discussion also highlights the importance of making gig work more inclusive by extending its flexible employment options to more women, persons with disabilities, and those from marginalised backgrounds and utilising the gig economy in formalising the economy in general.

Citation

Jafar, K., Unnimaya, U.G. and Malaiarasan, U. (2024), "Flexibility, Vulnerability, and Inclusiveness in the Gig Economy: A Review of India's Experience in the Context of Informalisation", Vinodan, A., Mahalakshmi, S. and Rameshkumar, S. (Ed.) Informal Economy and Sustainable Development Goals: Ideas, Interventions and Challenges, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 259-272. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-980-220241014