The Gig Economy and its Impact on Labor Laws in India
The Gig Economy and its Impact on Labor Laws in India
Authors:
Aadya Laxmi Tiwari (Student)
B.B.A.L.L.B 2ND Year, Amity University Chhattisgarh
Dr. Ram Kumar Sahu
Assistant Professor, Amity University Chhatisgarh
Abstract
This paper examines the rapid expansion of India's gig economy, which has disrupted traditional employer-employee relationships by positioning platform workers as independent contractors, thereby exposing significant gaps in legacy labor laws like the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, and prompting partial reforms through the Code on Social Security, 2020, which introduces distinct categories for gig and platform workers while falling short on comprehensive protections such as minimum wages and job security (Chitranshi & Dhruti, 2024; Gill & Gupta, 2024; Gusevа & Klepalova, 2022, p. 116; Mudholkar & Gaikwad, 2024). Drawing on empirical data indicating a workforce surge from 7.7 million in 2020–2021 to a projected 23.5 million by 2029–2030, it analyzes regulatory ambiguities, enforcement weaknesses, and socioeconomic vulnerabilities, including income instability and lack of social security, to propose adaptive legal frameworks balancing flexibility with worker rights (Kalbalia & Koushik, 2025; Khandelwal, 2026; Sachdeva, 2024).
Key Words
Gig economy, platform workers, labor laws, social security, India.