GIG ECONOMY AND LABOUR RIGHTS IN INDIA

AUTHOR – KAVITHA CHITTRARASU, STUDENT AT SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE IN LAW, THE TAMIL NADU DR AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY

BEST CITATION – KAVITHA CHITTRARASU, GIG ECONOMY AND LABOUR RIGHTS IN INDIA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (5) OF 2026, PG. 643-649, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT:

              THE RAPID EXPANSION OF THE GIG ECONOMY IN INDIA, DRIVEn by digital platforms and technological advancement, has fundamentally transformed traditional employment structures. While this model offers flexibility and increased employment opportunities, it simultaneously raises significant concerns regarding labour rights and worker protection. Gig workers, typically classified as independent contractors, remain excluded from essential legal safeguards such as minimum wages, social security, job security, and safe working conditions.This paper critically examines the legal status of gig workers in India, highlighting the inadequacy of existing labour laws that are primarily designed around conventional employer-employee relationships. Although the Code on Social Security, 2020 marks a progressive step by recognizing gig and platform workers, it fails to grant them enforceable rights or comprehensive protection. Through an analysis of judicial principles and comparative international frameworks, the paper underscores the urgent need for legal reforms. It advocates for the introduction of an intermediate worker classification, expansion of basic labour rights, and enhanced regulatory oversight of platform-based work. The study concludes that a balanced legal framework is essential to ensure that the growth of the gig economy does not come at the expense of worker welfare, thereby promoting both economic efficiency and social justice.

KEYWORDS: Gig Economy, Platform Work, Labour Rights, Social Security, Economic Dependency, Labour Law Reforms, Worker Protection, Job Security.