Platform Economy Exposes Gender Inequities in India’s Gig Workforce

The rapid expansion of the digital labour platform economy in India has brought significant changes to workforce participation, yet it continues to mirror traditional gender inequities. According to estimates from a NITI Aayog report, gig work in India engaged approximately 6.8 million people—equivalent to 2.4 per cent of the non-farm workforce—in 2019-20. This figure is projected to climb to 23.5 million by 2029-30, representing 6.7 per cent of the non-agricultural labour force.

Despite the promise of flexibility and web-based work from home, the platform economy often compounds the dual burden faced by women, who frequently shoulder the majority of unpaid household labour alongside unstable temporary work. Studies indicate that women are heavily overrepresented in low-wage care- and service-based gig roles, such as domestic services, beauty treatments, and micro-tasks facilitated by app-based providers like Urban Company, Snabbit, and Pronto. Conversely, they remain substantially under-represented in better-paid, male-dominated areas such as logistics and technical delivery.

This occupational segregation contributes directly to a persistent gender wage gap within the platform economy. Researchers note that factors such as poor bargaining power, unequal workload distribution, and algorithmic bias lead to women receiving lower compensation than men performing identical tasks. Furthermore, freelance sites frequently see women reducing service prices due to a lack of pricing transparency and the undervaluation of their own competencies.

Safety concerns and rigid structural obstacles further impede women's participation and productivity. Fear of harassment and a lack of proper safety guidelines restrict women from entering sectors like ride-hailing and delivery services. Unlike traditional employment models, platform work typically lacks a basic employer-employee relationship, leaving workers outside the scope of fundamental legal protections.

Current regulatory frameworks in India, including the Code on Social Security passed in 2020, have taken initial steps toward recognizing platform and gig workers. However, implementation remains limited, and existing laws often fail to address the specific gendered obstacles female workers encounter. Essential benefits such as health insurance, maternity benefits, paid leave, and pension protections are largely absent for the majority of gig workers.

Addressing these systemic challenges requires targeted policy interventions, transparent algorithmic decision-making, equitable remuneration, and robust security mechanisms. Experts emphasize that digital access alone does not equal empowerment; public policies must actively account for social, economic, and institutional barriers to ensure fair pay, safe working conditions, and sustainable livelihoods for women in India's evolving digital labour market.

"The platform economy has undoubtedly transformed how people access work, but it also highlights deep-rooted structural inequalities. For the gig economy to truly empower the Indian workforce, digital platforms and policymakers must work together to address safety, algorithmic transparency, and social security. Ensuring equal pay and formal protections for women is not just a matter of social justice; it is essential for the sustainable growth of India's digital labour market." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes