The Plight of Gig Workers: A Study from Select Districts of West Bengal

Social Science

The progress of technology has played a crucial role in driving the gig economy, which has been prevalent in advanced nations for thousands of years. However, it has only gained widespread attention in India in recent years. Over time, there has been a significant increase in the utilization of gig workers both in India and abroad due to various factors such as the evolving nature of work, technological advancements, and individual work preferences. It has completely transformed the manner in which people interact in the workplace and has primarily led to a fundamental change in the functioning of our economy. Notwithstanding the remarkable growth of India’s gig economy and potential interest to a large section of the workforce little emphasis has been paid to the impediments faced by gig workers. The article makes an effort by examining the working conditions, constraints faced by gig workers in the select districts of West Bengal. The findings revealed that the rapidly expanding gig economy of India may help in mitigating the concern related to unemployment. However, workers in the gig economy face numerous constraints related to meager income, poor working conditions, and lack of leave entitlements. Besides the near absence of safety nets like health insurance, accidental benefits, sick pay, provident fund, gratuity, bonus, maternity benefits, and pensions which bestow to their vulnerabilities. Subsequently, the authors discuss recommendations.

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