In the gig economy, millions of workers rely on platform jobs to make a living, often without the security or benefits of traditional employment. The Fairwork India Report 2024 delivers a critical assessment of these workers’ conditions. The report exposes the unsettling reality behind the promises of flexibility and freedom.
As platform companies like Zomato, Swiggy, and Urban Company continue to grow, so does the widening gap between workers’ rights and corporate profits. This year’s report reveals that while some platforms are making strides in improving labour standards, many continue to exploit their workers, offering little more than a life of uncertainty and hardship.
This story examines the findings of the Fairwork India Report. It highlights worker stories that paint a vivid picture of exploitation within the gig economy and emphasises the need for urgent change.
The state of platform labour in India: Key findings from the Fairwork India Report
The Fairwork India Report 2024 ranks 11 digital platforms operating in India across five core principles: Fair Pay, Fair Conditions, Fair Contracts, Fair Management, and Fair Representation. As the gig economy becomes a critical pillar of employment, particularly for young workers, these principles provide a benchmark for measuring how well platforms treat their workers.
Shockingly, none of the platforms reviewed earned more than 6 out of a possible 10 points. It exposes deep cracks in India’s platform economy.
Fair pay: Only two platforms make the cut
The most basic right for any worker is the guarantee of fair pay. Yet, the Fairwork India Report shows that only Bigbasket and Urban Company met the criteria for fair pay. These companies ensure their workers earn at least the local minimum wage, even after accounting for work-related costs such as fuel and vehicle maintenance.
What’s worse is that no platform was able to ensure a living wage for its workers. This means that after factoring in basic costs, gig workers still cannot earn enough to live dignified lives. For workers like Pradeep from Thiruvananthapuram, this leads to 14-hour workdays just to make ends meet. Pradeep, a Swiggy driver, shares how rising costs and static wages are creating a system of exploitation:
“We earn INR 500-600 daily or around INR 15,000 a month, and it’s just not enough. The level of exploitation is high. It feels like a parasite sucking our blood.”
Fair conditions: Safety measures in place, but is it enough?
Ensuring workers’ safety is another vital area assessed in the Fairwork India Report. Platforms like Amazon Flex, BigBasket, BluSmart, Swiggy, Urban Company, Zepto, and Zomato earned points for providing safety equipment and regular safety training to their workers.
However, only BigBasket, Swiggy, Urban Company, Zepto, and Zomato went a step further. These companies offer accident insurance and monetary compensation for income loss when workers are unable to work due to medical reasons. For workers like Natarajan, an Ola driver from Chennai, these safety nets can mean the difference between survival and financial ruin. Yet, the reality is grim for many others in the gig economy, where such benefits remain elusive.
The reality of gig work: Worker stories as published in the Fairwork India Report
Behind every point earned or missed in the Fairwork India Report are real stories of workers struggling to make a living in India’s platform economy.
Natarajan’s story: Stuck in the platform trap
Natarajan, a driver for Ola since 2017, reflects on how platforms initially gained workers’ trust by offering attractive deals, only to erode these benefits slowly over time. He describes his situation as being trapped in the system:
“We hoped there would be gains, but they cut down on offers. Now, it’s impossible to leave Ola or Uber and start something independently.”
For Natarajan, the loss of human interaction with platform management compounds the frustration. Automation has taken over, and support feels distant and impersonal:
“There’s no one to speak to anymore; everything is automated. We’re on our own.”
Pradeep’s story: The struggles of a food delivery worker
Pradeep, a Swiggy worker, underscores the challenges of making a living in the current gig economy. Fuel costs have doubled in the past six years, but his pay has stagnated. For workers like Pradeep, daily earnings of INR 500-600 come at the cost of long hours and significant personal expenses.
He shares the harsh reality of his situation:
“It’s my fate. I’ve been suffering for 5-6 years in this heat. There’s no other option.”
Pradeep’s story is not unique. Many platform workers face similar issues of exploitation. They are forced to bear the rising costs of living with little to no increase in pay.
Fair contracts and fair management: Some progress, but challenges remain
The Fairwork India Report highlights some positive steps taken by platforms to improve contractual clarity and management. Six platforms, including BigBasket, BluSmart, Swiggy, Urban Company, Zepto, and Zomato, earned points for making their contracts more accessible and transparent.
Additionally, Swiggy has committed to compensating workers for income loss due to app malfunctions. This issue has been a long-standing concern for many gig workers.
However, the report paints a dismal picture in terms of fair representation. No platform was willing to recognise a collective body of workers or a trade union, leaving gig workers with little to no bargaining power. This lack of representation remains one of the most critical issues facing India’s platform workers today.
Moving forward: What needs to change?
The Fairwork India Report 2024 sends a clear message: while some platforms are making incremental improvements, the gig economy in India is still rife with exploitation. Companies like BigBasket and Urban Company may have made strides in ensuring minimum wage policies and safety measures, but this is far from enough.
The absence of fair representation is a glaring issue that leaves workers vulnerable. There is an urgent need for platforms to recognise collective bargaining rights and create structures that give workers a voice.
The platform economy is here to stay, but it must evolve to meet the needs of its workforce. Workers like Natarajan and Pradeep deserve better. As we look to the future, platforms must prioritise the wellbeing of their workers, ensure fair pay, and provide adequate safety nets.
The Need for ChangeInContent
At Changeincontent.com, we advocate for more than just transforming the words we write or publish. We champion a fundamental shift in how we communicate, implement policies, and treat the people who build our workplaces.
The findings of the Fairwork India Report reflect this need for change. It is not enough to adjust the surface-level content of corporate PR or policies. Instead, we must transform the entire narrative that governs how companies operate, from fair pay to employee wellbeing. It is time to rethink the “content” of how we work—by ensuring fairness, respect, and dignity for every worker across every platform.
Conclusion: The path to a fairer future
The gig economy has revolutionised how people work. Still, it has also exposed the deep vulnerabilities of workers who are often left to navigate challenging conditions with little to no support. The Fairwork India Report 2024 provides a critical blueprint for what needs to change. It is a call to action for platforms to do better, for policymakers to step in, and for society to demand more accountability.
If we are to create a future that is equitable and just, the platform economy must evolve beyond profits and put workers at the heart of its operations.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content, which we broadly define as media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity. The workers’ names used in the report are for representation purposes only.
