In an age of increased automation and fewer jobs in industries, governments are challenged to find new services that can generate employment and absorb a whole generation of restive workers. When app-based algorithms arrived, linking labour demand with supply, a panoply of services emerged and created mass employment through flexible work.

Gig economy growth in India

Ride-hailing, groceries and food delivery, task-based skilled labour, and healthcare and senior care services represent this new frontier in many countries, notably India, China, and Southeast Asia. NITI Aayog estimates put the number of Indian gig workers at 77 lakh in 2020–21, with a projected rise to 2.3 crore by 2030.

Risks of remaining outside regulation

There is justified concern that if gig work, as a major share of........

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