SUSTAINABILITY IN GIG WORK: CONCEPTUAL AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES

Labour market has been transformed with the rise of the gig economy. There are offers like flexible work opportunities, remote working in contrast to the traditional employment structures. This paper has examined the sustainability of gig work by focusing its impact on worker livelihoods. Using a secondary research approach, the literature review explored key aspects of gig work, including income instability, digital labor intermediation, and the absence of formal employment protections. The gig workers experience redacted autonomy, social insecurity, and physical and mental health pressures without the benefits of minimum wages, leaves or other employment paybacks. The Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 (UWSSA, 2008) and the subsequent four labor codes, especially the Code on Social Security, 2020 (CSS, 2020) constitute the legislative framework governing gig work in India. Policy advancements and passing of new labor codes, has not changed the wage scenario for the gig workers as the implementation of the codes is still awaited. As a result, gig workers continue to receive wages without social security benefits and occupational safety protections. Keywords: Gig economy, Gig Work, Platform work, Labour legislation, Social security, Sustainability.