Beyond Flexibility: Reimagining Labour Protection In India's Platform Economy
- IJLLR Journal
- 4 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Savita Bhimanagouda Patil, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur
Dr. Venoo Rajpurohit, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur
ABSTRACT
The rapid expansion of India's platform economy has transformed work by creating flexible, technology-driven employment in sectors such as transportation, food delivery, domestic services, logistics, and digital freelancing. While these opportunities have expanded income generation, they have also exposed millions of workers to new forms of economic insecurity. Platform workers are typically classified as independent contractors despite operating under significant digital supervision and economic dependence, leaving them excluded from key labour protections, including minimum wages, occupational safety, collective bargaining, and social security. This article critically examines India's evolving legal framework governing platform labour through the lens of constitutional principles, labour jurisprudence, and comparative developments. It analyses the limitations of the Code on Wages, 2019, the Code on Social Security, 2020, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 in addressing the vulnerabilities of digitally mediated work. It also explores algorithmic management, worker misclassification, and social security exclusion while drawing lessons from the United Kingdom and the European Union. The article argues that India's labour law must move beyond the traditional employer-independent contractor divide by recognizing the realities of platform work and embedding constitutional values of dignity, equality, and social justice within labour regulation. It concludes that sustainable digital economic growth requires a rights-based framework that balances technological innovation with effective labour protection.
Keywords: Platform Workers, Gig Economy, Algorithmic Management, Social Security, Labour Law, Platform Economy, Digital Employment.
