WOMEN WORKING IN THE GIG ECONOMY

Ranging across the beauty industry, domestic work, food delivery, cab services and medical care, along with the
upcoming digital labour due to growth in remote working, the gig economy holds immense potential to fill the gaps
for employment generation in India, principally for women with the ability to balance work and family responsibility
and gain financial independence in due process. This paper examines the current trends in India’s gig economy
workspace for women. It also examines if its expansion in the future will significantly improve indicators like female
labour force participation rates. This will contribute to economic growth. The paper also aims to familiarise the reader
with the terminology used while referring to the gig economy. As the workspace horizon shifts from traditional whitecollar
jobs to more contract-based work, growth in such on-demand/platform jobs is rising, raising probing questions
like changes in policymaking and work benefits to accommodate this new rising workforce. Viewing it from a gendered
lens to include questions like fair treatment and equality coupled with pay parity will give further insight into the
conditions of women who are going to be a significant part of this rising workforce and thereby help in understanding
if being a part of the gig economy accrues any tremendous benefits to women whilst creating a gender-sensitive work
environment.