The concerns about technology consuming jobs through automation have been discussed. Yet, as noted, tech also creates new jobs. One area is...
The concerns about technology consuming jobs through automation have been discussed. Yet, as noted, tech also creates new jobs. One area is the growing number of livelihood opportunities in the “platform” or online world. This is part of the “gig” economy, and ranges from sophisticated work (often for foreign clients) in developing software, website designing, translation and editing, to food delivery.
Estimates indicate that the number of food delivery agents in just one company (Zomato) in India is over 230,000, and the number of drivers in one taxi-app service (Ola) was estimated at 2.5 million in 2018. China’s more developed market has at least 5.7 million delivery personnel in its two main players (Meituan Dianping, backed by Tencent Holdings, and Ele.me, a part of the Alibaba Group).
In India, these gig workers have no social security safety net.
In Brazil, though (where over 600,000 drivers work for Uber alone), then-president Dilma Rousseff made it mandatory for employers to sign a contract with domestic help, guaranteeing a fixed salary, holidays and other benefits. India needs to think of how to deal with the issue as the number of gig workers soars. The new labour code includes some degree of social security for such workers.
Amidst all the...
