Gig work is temporary or freelance work performed by a person independently on an informal or on-demand basis. Gig work consists of income-earning activities that do not have long-term employer-employee relationship.
Gig economy is the contribution of these workers to the economy of the businesses they work in as well as to the overall economy of the countries in which they work.
Gig workers are a vulnerable group. Gig work can be dangerous.
In the US, it is estimated that 55 million Americans work in the gig economy. McKinsey Global Institute and other reputed agencies estimate that between 25 and 35 percent of workers are engaged in gig work on a supplementary or primary basis. About 10 percent of workers are engaged in gig work as their main job. Less than 1 percent are with online platforms (like Uber, TaskRabbit etc.), also called as platform workers.
In India, there are no estimates regarding the number of gig workers but looking at the success of online platforms (Zomato, Delhivery, Swiggy etc.) the numbers must be bigger than in USA. However, The Code on Social Security 2020 which was passed in Parliament in September 2020 provides for social security for gig and platform workers along with unorganised sector workers.
This is a great initiative by the PM Narendra Modi’s government wherein gig and platform workers have been defined and incorporated within the ambit of labour laws. As it is happening for the first time there are issues about overlapping definitions and how to make the registration more inclusive.
Work content and working conditions of gig workers being ill-defined (non-standard work), they sometimes end up running errands for their employers.
Gig and platform worker is a new name for workers doing certain types of jobs but essentially, they are a subset of a larger set of unorganised sector workers. Hence keeping three separate categories – unorganised, gig and platform workers – is not really necessary due to overlaps.
Although the Code on Social Security 2020 defines workers for sake of wages and compensation issues, it does not make any provision about their work and working conditions and its impact on health.
Similarly, there are safety issues as platform workers as they visit unfamiliar homes and offices to deliver parcels.
Even in the US, these challenges look scary without appropriate occupational health regulations and enforcement.
Gig worker should be treated no differently than other employees. The risks peculiar to their work should be assessed and efforts done to mitigate them.
Work content and working conditions of gig workers being ill-defined (non-standard work), they sometimes end up running errands for their employers. Generally, there are no classifications in gig workers – intellectual vs manual work, blue-collar vs white collar or services vs goods. This situation is worse off than workers in unorganised sectors like construction workers, fishing, agriculture etc. where there is some classification and generic health advices can be implemented.
Gig workers are a vulnerable group. Gig work can be dangerous – as even in the western nations a gig worker does work without much training regarding the job, is low paid, is temporary, without health or retiring benefits, and unsafe. It lacks career training, promotion opportunities and collective bargaining.
Neo liberalization of economy has increased work and health-related precarization (dangers) and led to a social class of people those who have no job security or prospect of regular employment.
Since gig work is an occupation, albeit relatively new in this age of neoliberalism, and the number of gig workers are likely to increase by millions in every country in the next few years, the contribution of Occupational Health associations and physicians will be of utmost importance.
Ideally, gig worker should be treated no differently than other employees. The risks peculiar to their work should be assessed and efforts done to mitigate them.
Typical risks of gig workers are job insecurity leading to stress; low wages (or fluctuating incomes) leading to poor sleep quality, headaches and backaches; excessive driving leading to higher cardio-vascular risks; working in hot weather conditions leading to dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke etc.
Interestingly, in India, the Occupational Safety, Health and Workplace Conditions Code mandates companies to create safe working conditions for employees but does not include any provisions for outdoor workers working in harsh climatic conditions.
Gig work is here to stay – it will transform the future of work globally; hence, it is necessary that businesses employing them demonstrate taking care of their working conditions as that impacts health, both short-term and long-term.
Neo liberalization of economy has increased work and health related precarization (dangers) and led to a social class of people those who have no job security or prospect of regular employment.
Since gig work is an occupation, albeit relatively new in this age of neoliberalism, and the number of gig workers are likely to increase by millions in every country in the next few years, the contribution of Occupational Health associations and physicians will be of utmost importance.
Globally, the OH associations and physicians must influence the governments in the countries they reside to introduce legislation and create work standards that are conducive to both the businesses and the gig workers alike with special attention to working conditions and worker health.
Amongst the business owners and corporations, the OH associations must strive to create awareness in them, influence compassion and generate the willingness to take action about health and wellbeing of all workers, including gig workers.
To know more, contact
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Dr Ajay Sati is an Occupational Health physician who prefers to describe himself as an Occupationist, to denote, ‘an expert in diseases and other concerns of occupations’. Dr Sati has managed health and wellness programs in industries he worked, like the atomic energy, and energy (oil & gas) in India and overseas. An experienced virtual consultation expert he was involved in many greenfield and brownfield projects providing inputs from health point of view.
