In June, Bengaluru witnessed a protest by aggregator platform Urban Company’s women workers in the beauty segment, categorised as ‘partners’ or ‘independent contractors’ by the gig economy. https://thewire.in/labour/why-a-robust-gig-work-legislation-will-help-women-workers
The protest mostly stemmed from the company’s decision to bring in new terms of service without consulting workers which impacted their ability to remain flexible, a much touted benefit reiterated by the gig economy.
“We do not [presently] get leave like employees d
o. I had a few cancellations due to health and personal reasons, and now I have been blocked,” said Varsha, a premium Luxe category worker in the beauty segment who was worried about not getting work on the platform.
According to a 2024 International Labour Organization report on platform workers, even as the platform economy gets poised to catalyse economic growth and boost employment levels in the country, life in the platform economy for many workers continues to be precarious, without adequate economic and social security.
Legislation will help in establishing conditions for women, said experts, including Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace (POSH), maternity benefits, creche etc. “Gig work does not come under any labour jurisdiction including POSH. Aggregators believe customers are right and there is no challenge to it. Self regulation does not work,” said Swamy.
by Shreehari Paliath, IndiaSpend