GIG worker protections: designing a new labour category for the digital economy

The rapid growth of gig and platform-based work in India has created unprecedented opportunities for flexible employment but has simultaneously exposed workers to heightened occupational safety and health risks. Traditional labour laws often fail to address the vulnerabilities of this workforce, which includes delivery personnel, ride share drivers, and freelance digital service providers. The enactment of the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, 2020, under India’s new labour codes, marks a critical step toward integrating gig workers into the formal safety and welfare framework. This article examines the scope and effectiveness of these provisions in protecting gig workers from occupational hazards, ensuring access to health facilities, accident compensation, and welfare measures. It critically evaluates challenges in enforcement, including the informal nature of platform work, lack of employer accountability, and digital monitoring limitations. By analysing case studies, government notifications, and comparative international practices, the study underscores the need for adaptive policy mechanisms that balance flexibility with worker protection. The article concludes that strengthening regulatory oversight, mandating platform accountability, and extending social security benefits are essential to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of gig and platform workers in India’s evolving digital economy.