Calling out exploitative labour dynamics on platforms
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Calling out exploitative labour dynamics on platforms

The Hindu  

In the midst of the continuous evolution of the concept of “gig workers”, there was a groundbreaking movement in India recently — a nationwide digital strike this Deepavali that was organised by women gig workers. This was a call made by the Gig and Platform Services Workers Union, India’s first union that is dedicated primarily to women gig workers. For the writers of this article, this moment is pivotal — women gig workers chose the auspicious day of Deepavali to initiate a digital strike, calling it a “Black Diwali”. Under the guise of offering “freedom” to choose working hours and attain financial independence, gig economy platforms entice women with promises of balancing work and family commitments.

India Workers Gig Workers Women Gig Workers Platform Gig Labour Exploitation Platform Companies Women Worker  startups  exploitative  workers  strike  companies  platforms  platform  women  worker  calling  dynamics  labour  exploitation  gig

History of this topic

A new deal to protect India’s gig workers?
2 years ago

A new deal to protect India’s gig workers?

Hindustan Times  

Last month, as part of its budget for 2023-24, Rajasthan announced that the state will enact a law for the protection of gig workers, establish a welfare board, and devote ₹200 crore for this purpose. It will be administered by a welfare board, which — if labour demands are fulfilled — will have representatives of the government, platform companies and …

Gig workers vulnerable to exploitation
3 years ago

Gig workers vulnerable to exploitation

The Hindu  

As “delivery riders”, they zip around on their bikes non-stop after picking up orders from restaurants or retail chains trying to meet daily targets. According to India Brand Equity Foundation, a trust established by the Department of Commerce, an estimate showed that by 2025, there would be 350 million gig workers, thus presenting “a huge opportunity for job seekers to …

Our expanding gig economy must treat workers fairly
3 years, 3 months ago

Our expanding gig economy must treat workers fairly

Live Mint  

The gig economy and its growing fault lines between gig employees and platform companies are in the news again, with 50 women “partners" of Urban Company’s salon and spa vertical protesting against policy changes that will come into effect from January. The gig economy refers to “economic activity that involves the use of temporary or freelance workers to perform jobs …

Devise a new labour law regime for gig economy workers
4 years, 6 months ago

Devise a new labour law regime for gig economy workers

Hindustan Times  

The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed multiple fault-lines in India’s economy and labour market. The employee/contractor binary, however, is based upon an outdated vision of work, where the factory or the shop floor was the predominant site of “work” The root of the problem lies in an outdated labour law regime. In the case of Uber, for example, the app plays …

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