LABOUR LAW ISSUES IN GIG ECONOMY PLATFORMS LIKE UBER AND ZOMATO

The emergence of digital platforms such as Uber and Zomato has significantly transformed the contemporary labour market by introducing flexible, technology-driven work arrangements. The gig economy has generated substantial employment opportunities, particularly in developing countries, by enabling individuals to provide services on a task-based basis through digital applications. While platform-based work offers flexibility and low entry barriers, it has simultaneously raised serious labour law concerns. Gig workers are generally classified as independent contractors rather than employees, thereby depriving them of fundamental labour rights including minimum wages, social security benefits, occupational safety, paid leave, and collective bargaining rights. This paper critically examines the labour law issues arising within gig economy platforms, with specific emphasis on Uber and Zomato. It analyses the legal ambiguity surrounding the employment status of gig workers, the increasing use of algorithmic management, wage insecurity, social security deficits, and occupational health and safety concerns. The study further evaluates India's existing legal framework, particularly the Code on Social Security, 2020, and analyses important judicial and legislative developments in comparative jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. The paper argues that the traditional binary distinction between employees and independent contractors is inadequate in addressing contemporary platform-based employment relationships. It advocates comprehensive legal reforms including algorithmic transparency, universal social protection, fair deactivation procedures, and recognition of an intermediate category of workers. The study concludes that balancing technological innovation with labour protection is essential to ensure decent work and social justice in the digital economy.