Kolkata: The Economic Survey has strongly advocated policy interventions for gig workers, about 40% of whom earn less than Rs 15,000 a month, A “minimum per-hour or per-task earnings” has to be set for this category of workers, which should ensure fair wages, compensation for waiting time. A broad objective is to bring down the cost disparity between regular and gig employment. The observation assumes significance since the Union Budget 2026 is set to be presented on Sunday, Feb 1.
The Economic Survey which was presented in the Parliament on Thursday also noted how very limited skill sets and constant fear of job losses due to technological advances, thanks to the AI and Machine Learning proliferation, continue to plague this rising category of workers.
Concerns over fee and worker protections
“Platforms have become essential gig-market infrastructure for finding workers and work. This concentration of power raises concerns over fees, algorithms, and worker protections. Policy should address this through competition rules, data access, and algorithmic transparency, while reorganising the social contract so that gig work benefits workers more fairly,” the Economic Survey mentioned.
“Policy can reduce the cost gap between regular and gig work by limiting incentives to avoid mandatory benefits and by setting minimum per-hour or per-task earnings (including waiting time), encouraging formal employment and raising incomes for low- and medium-skilled gig workers,” it added noted.
Gig workers protest
Due to the multiple stres factors, gig workers re rising in protest. On Dec 31q Quick commerce and food delivery personnel struck work demanding better pay. They organised protests through the unions who demanded improved working conditions, formal recognition under the country’s labour laws and elimination of the 10-minute delivery promise by the platforms. Protests were also lodged with the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment and following the measure, the government told e-commerce players to abolish the 10-minute delivery branding.
Fast expansion
Over the past few years, there has been a marked expansion of the gig economy in the country. The Economic Survey observd a structural shift, marked by a rise of the population of gig workers from 77 lakh in FY21 to 1.2 crore in FY25 — a jump of 55%. The Survey stated it has come to represent more than 2% of the total workforce in the country. What’s more significant is that the growth rate of gig workers has outsmarted that in overall employment.
According to projections, non-agricultural gig workers are expected to constitute 6.7% of the workforce by FY30. At that level it is projected to contribute as much as Rs 2.35 lakh crore to the GDP of the country.