Are Gig Workers a Part of India’s Labour Data?

(GS Paper III – Indian Economy | Employment | Inclusive Growth)

Introduction

India’s growing gig economy reflects a fundamental transformation in the nature of work, marked by task-based, app-mediated, and non-traditional labour arrangements. While recent policy measures acknowledge gig and platform workers, labour statistics like the PLFS (Periodic Labour Force Survey) still fail to accurately capture their distinct employment conditions, creating a gap between recognition and representation.

Legal & Policy Recognition

🔸 Code on Social Security, 2020

Section 2(35): Defines gig workers as individuals outside traditional employer–employee relationships.
Platform work: Digital work via platforms for payment.
Clause 141: Mandates a Social Security Fund for gig, platform, and unorganised workers.
Section 6: Provides for a National Social Security Board to oversee welfare schemes for these workers.

🔸 Policy Initiatives

e-Shram portal: Digital registration of unorganised workers, including gig/platform workers.
PM-JAY Health Coverage: Extending healthcare access through Ayushman Bharat.

Gaps in Labour Data Classification

🔹 PLFS (Periodic Labour Force Survey) – Limitations

No distinct classification for gig/platform workers.
Misclassified as:
- Self-employed
- Own-account workers
- Casual labourers

🔹 Consequences of Misclassification

Statistical invisibility → Misguided policy and exclusion from targeted welfare.
No reflection of:
- Algorithmic control
- Multi-app tasking
- Lack of income stability
- No job contracts
- Absence of employer accountability

Example: A delivery worker on Swiggy and Zomato is counted under generic “self-employed”, ignoring his platform-based, digitally controlled work conditions.

Importance of Proper Classification

NITI Aayog (2022) projects 23.5 million gig workers by 2029-30.
The PLFS 2025 revisions improved sample size, monthly estimates, rural reach, but failed to:
- Add new codes/categories for gig work.
- Include questions on app-based or task-based digital employment.

Why Gig Work Is Unique

Traditional Self-Employment	Gig Work
Independent control	App-mediated and algorithmically controlled
Stable or cyclical income	Highly volatile income
One business/employer	Multi-platform, task-based
Ownership over work	Zero ownership, high precarity
Recognised legally	Largely invisible statistically

Challenges Due to Poor Representation

Welfare Exclusion
- Data gaps prevent effective targeting under social security schemes.
Policy Mismatch
- Recognition in law but no operational tracking.
Invisibility in Macro Data
- Undermines sector-specific reforms, insurance, and protections.

Conclusion

While India has made progress by legally recognizing gig and platform workers, the failure of labour statistics like PLFS to represent them accurately creates a significant policy blind spot. Without proper classification and dedicated data modules, gig workers remain excluded from evidence-based policymaking, resulting in a mismatch between rights promised and rights delivered.