62 percent gig workers have no formal contract with platforms they work for: Study

The study also pointed to rising health risks, low levels of legal awareness and the near absence of worker unions. As many as 92 per cent reported gig work as their sole source of livelihood, while 62 per cent said they had no formal agreement or written contract with the platforms they work for. The survey further revealed that only 12 per cent of workers were fully aware of labour laws and workplace safety provisions, highlighting widespread legal vulnerability.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Achyut Godbole traced the roots of the gig economy to global outsourcing and neo-liberal economic processes. He expressed concern over the vulnerability of gig workers who, unlike factory workers, lack organised unions. He stressed the urgent need to organise gig workers so they can collectively demand fair working conditions. “From the worker’s perspective, there is no security. The inequality has become a part of neo-liberal capitalism, it is a systemic issue and must be seen as a comprehensive fight,” he said.

Dr. Anant Phadke said, “The very need for gig work today reflects rising unemployment. Workers are forced to overwork under extreme time pressure. From preparation to delivery, they face hazards at every stage. This stress leads to hypertension, diabetes and chronic muscular disorders, while unsafe working conditions increase accidents”. He noted that chronic fatigue is becoming increasingly common and emphasised that health insurance alone is insufficient without strong mechanisms to ensure workers actually receive the benefits they are entitled to.

Sustainability expert Priti Kibe spoke about the challenges faced by migrant gig workers, who form a significant proportion of the workforce. “Schemes like ESIC (Employees’ State Insurance Corporation) are highly underutilised simply because workers are unaware of their rights,” she said. She also pointed out that short-term welfare measures remain inadequate and called for long-term, sustainable support systems to ensure secure livelihoods, greater rights awareness and access to social security.

The programme brought together activists, researchers, policymakers, corporate representatives and students to discuss the rapidly expanding gig economy and the pressing concerns faced by platform-based workers in Pune.