Here's why India's gig workforce is still outside purview of basic benefits

The Social Security Code of 2020 offered guidelines to companies for gig work

If you have seen Zwigato, Param Kumar’s story will sound familiar. Laid off from his job as a repairman at a Gurugram-based water purifier provider, he now delivers groceries and food for a mobile-based delivery app, in Delhi. Kumar, who started making deliveries last August, told Business Standard that he is working longer hours than his older salaried job as an RO repairman, and has no paid leaves or health insurance.

Kumar is part of India’s estimated 7.7 million-strong force of gig workers. The number of gig workers is expected to grow to 23.5 million by 2029-30, according to a