On call 24/7: a spotlight on gig workers who are running the new economy , Pg9

Key Highlights:

• Zwigato, a 2022 Hindi movie, portrays the struggles of gig workers in India's changing business environment.
• OTP Please, a 2025 book by Vandana Vasudevan, explores the emotions of various stakeholders in the gig economy across South Asia.
• A 2022 NITI Aayog report projects the gig workforce in India to reach 23.5 million by 2029-30, up from 7.7 million in 2020-21.
• The Indian digital economy is projected to be worth $1 trillion in the next five years due to increased online buying.

Detailed Insights:

• The gig economy offers convenience and job opportunities but also raises concerns about corporate greed, income disparity, and worker precarity.
• Vasudevan's book highlights the loss of human connection due to online consumerism, where instant gratification overshadows personal interactions.
• Amitava Ghosh's 2020 book suggests the gig economy offers flexibility and work-life balance, aligning with the preferences of Gen X, Y, and Z.
• Pradip Ninan Thomas's 2025 book examines the relationship between entrepreneurs, state governments, and platform providers in the gig economy.
• The gig economy facilitates innovative services and job creation but also brings disruption to industries and impacts the largely millennial workforce.
• The rise of the gig economy raises questions about whether jobs can be both flexible and provide a sustainable wage, as traditional full-time employment declines.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Gig Economy: A labor market characterized by short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs.
• Algorithmic Management: The use of algorithms to control, direct, and evaluate workers, often in the gig economy.
• Precarity: The state of existence in which material resources and psychological well-being are limited or unpredictable.