Economic Survey Urges Policy Action on Gig Workers’ Pay and Platform Regulation

India’s gig workforce increased from 7.7 million in FY21 to about 12 million in FY25, the Economic Survey 2025-26 said, citing Indian Staffing Federation data. This is a rise of around 55% over four years.  

Gig workers now account for more than 2% of the total workforce, with gig roles expanding faster than overall employment during the period. 

Low Pay and Income Volatility 

The Survey said about 40% of gig workers earn less than ₹15,000 per month. It highlighted income volatility as a persistent issue, affecting access to credit and other financial services.  

Financial inclusion among gig workers remains limited, with irregular earnings patterns reducing eligibility for loans and formal banking products. 

Asset Access and Skill Differences 

Limited access to productive assets, such as vehicles and specialised equipment, was identified as a key barrier to moving into higher-paying roles. The Survey noted that the gig workforce is segmented by skill levels.  

A 2022 NITI Aayog report projected that high-skilled workers could account for 27.5% of gig workers by 2030, while low-skilled workers could represent 33.8%. 

Platform Control and Market Power 

The Survey said platforms control job allocation, performance monitoring, wages and supply-demand matching through algorithms.  

It flagged concerns over concentration of power among platforms, along with risks linked to algorithmic bias, continuous monitoring and worker fatigue. Policy measures were suggested on platform fees, data access and transparency in algorithmic systems. 

Labour Code Coverage 

The Code on Social Security, 2020 recognises gig and platform workers as a distinct category, but the Survey said the framework treats the workforce as broadly uniform despite variations in skills and income levels.  

It noted that gig work should be a matter of choice rather than driven by limited employment options. 

Policy Suggestions 

The Survey proposed setting minimum per-hour or per-task earnings, limiting incentives that allow firms to avoid mandatory benefits, and encouraging financial products suited to irregular incomes.  

It also suggested competition rules and transparency measures to address excessive platform power, along with co-investment by platforms and employers in training and assets. 

Read More: Economic Survey 2026 Explained: India’s Annual Economic Report Card! 

Conclusion 

The Economic Survey said the expansion of gig work has not led to stable incomes or broad access to financial services and outlined policy measures to address income volatility, platform concentration and skill gaps. 

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