Are gig workers a part of India’s labour data?, Pg8

Context:

• Despite policy recognition and welfare measures for gig and platform workers, India’s primary labour survey, the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), continues to lack a distinct classification for this rapidly growing segment of the workforce.

Key Highlights:

• The Union Budget 2025 extended social protection schemes to gig and platform workers.
• Gig workers were legally defined in the Code on Social Security, 2020, but are still statistically invisible.
• The PLFS 2025 does not provide a specific category for gig/platform workers.
• Gig work is subsumed under broad categories like self-employed, own-account workers, or casual labour.
• NITI Aayog’s 2022 report projected gig workforce to reach 23.5 million by 2029-30.
• Lack of classification hinders access to social security schemes and accurate policy formulation.
• Gig work’s unique features like algorithmic control, multiple platforms, and task-based roles remain uncaptured.

Detailed Insights:

• The Code on Social Security, 2020 introduced the first formal recognition of gig and platform workers outside of traditional employer-employee structures.
• Despite this, primary datasets like PLFS fail to reflect gig work’s distinctive features. 
• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation clarified that while gig work is technically included in “economic activity,” it is not separately classified.
• Policy bodies like the National Social Security Board depend on PLFS data for evidence-based schemes, which remains inadequate for gig workers.
• The PLFS 2025 revision introduced better rural representation and monthly estimates, but missed updating codes to identify gig/platform work.
• This mismatch between recognition and representation creates barriers to inclusive labour policymaking and comprehensive welfare access.

Way Forward

• Create a distinct gig worker category in the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) to capture the unique nature of gig and platform work.
• Enhance data granularity by differentiating between types of gig work (e.g., delivery, freelance, ride-sharing) for targeted policy interventions.
• Regularly revise labour classifications in national surveys to keep pace with evolving work patterns and emerging employment models.
• Strengthen coordination between the Ministry of Statistics, NITI Aayog, and social security boards to ensure data-driven policymaking.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Gig Worker: A person working outside a traditional employer-employee framework, often on short-term or task-based contracts via digital platforms.
• Platform Work: Services or problem-solving tasks executed through digital platforms, often controlled by algorithmic governance.
• PLFS (Periodic Labour Force Survey): India’s official labour market survey capturing employment and unemployment trends across rural and urban areas.
• Algorithmic Governance: Use of automated systems to assign, manage, or evaluate work, prevalent in gig platforms.