Article :
Gig Economy - Intensification of Labour Exploitation
In the history of the exploitative capitalist mode of production , all the economic crises that emerged have strengthened exploitative forces . The implication is the same even in the world economic crisis of 2008 . Conversely , this could weaken the working class by intensifying the unemployment crisis . In this context , the Gig Platform economy has emerged to raise labour exploitation by the application of modern technology so as to earn excessive profits . It could spread to all the countries and in every sector with an accelerated speed . The World Bank estimates that the gig workers are to the tune of 6 percent of the total workers . The independent contractors in the world are more than 20 crores . The value of production on the gig system by 2019 is as high as $ 4.5 trillion . Its fast spread can be seen in emerging economies , including India , owing to their high unemployment crisis . It became the livelihood source for majority youth . Further , the youth in the gig system in India is as high as 70 lakhs by 2020-21 . The NITI Aayog has estimated that it will reach 2.35 crores by 2029-30 . The study by Boston Consulting Group states the gig system has the potential to create employment for 9 crores in India .
The gig system has emerged to raise commodification of labour to intensify labour exploitation and to convert labour as a slave to capital through the usage of advanced technological progress .
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Gig Economy - Employment Relations - Intensified Labour Exploitation :
The workers in the gig system have been misnamed as independent contractors . This will negate all the concepts related to labour such as labour value , working class , workers / trade unions , labour rights and labour laws . No security and guarantee for work . The limit of working hours per day as well as the minimum wage will demise in the gig labour market model . No written agreements . The app companies / the employees will not have any responsibility towards gig workers . No health and accident insurance . No leaves , and no question of paid leaves . The independent contractors must complete the tasks assigned by App companies and take the remuneration . They are only machines with physical fitness . They are mere business expansion instruments for ensuing Robos and Drones .
In India , the gig economy has strongly strengthened in three sectors : individual transport , delivery of various goods including cooked food and variety of home services . The Uber , Ola , Rapido can be seen in individual transport , while Swiggy and Zomato App companies appear in delivery of goods and food , while the Urban company and House Joy App companies extend various household services .
The independent contractors must complete the work assigned by the app companies . The app
CAMPAIGN AGAINST STATE REPRESSION Organizing Team
( AIRSO , AISA , AISF , APCR , ASA , BAPSA , BBAU , BASF , BSM , Bhim Army , bsCEM , CEM , COLLECTIVE , CRPP , CSM CTF , DISSC , DSU , DTF , Forum Against Repression Telangana , Fraternity , IAPL , Innocence Network , Karnataka Janashakti , LAA , Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan , Mazdoor Patrika , NAPM , NAZARIYA , Nishant Natya Manch , Nowruz , NTUI , People ’ s Watch , Rihai Manch , Samajwadi Janparishad , Samajwadi Lok Manch , Bahujan Samjavadi Manch , SFI , United Peace Alliance , WSS , Y4S ) � December-2024
Prof . Thota Jyothi Rani
company may or may not assign the work . They may assign the work at any time . It is the responsibility of the independent contractor to wait for the work continuously throughout the day . W ithin 30 seconds , the gig workers must give their acceptance . The labour and pressure are seriously involved in waiting for the work as well as performing the work . However , there is no payment for the labour involved in waiting for the work . This surplus labour will be automatically appropriated by the app company . Further , these companies will not have any offices to enable the gig workers to wait for the work and to come back after the completion of work . The app company will pay only for the service rendered to the customer but will not include how the worker will reach the customer and come back . Therefore , no payment for it . What will happen to the unpaid labour in the entire process ? It will be transformed into profits for app companies through the modern form of bonded labour . For want of minimum earnings , the gig worker is forced to work for multiple app companies . Thus , they are compelled to learn several skills to do different works for different app companies . This will further intensify the labour exploitation .
The app companies introduce gamification where the gig worker is forced to complete various tasks like a game so as to get incentives . The gig worker will always be in restless condition in this process . So that , they will neither identify the labour exploitation that they are subjected to nor think about unionisation . This is the main goal of the gamification technique .
Moreover , the independent contractor in the gig economy
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