When Grinch Almost Stole Gig Workers' Christmas

India’s gig economy is at an inflection point. Sold as a model of flexibility and scale, it now finds itself under scrutiny as workers protest shrinking pay, rising pressure, and the absence of basic protections. This episode examines the deeper tensions powering India’s convenience economy between flexibility and dignity, efficiency and responsibility. At one end is a labour market flooded with millions of workers who struggle to find formal employment. At the other is a platform-driven system that relies on volatility, algorithmic control, and high churn to function. As gig work expands rapidly, questions around minimum earnings, accident cover, social security, and predictability have moved from the margins to the centre of policy debate. Host Neil Ghai talks to Kartik Narayan, CEO of apna.co and Anshul Prakash, Partner at Khaitan & Co as they dissect India’s new labour codes, which formally recognise gig workers but stop short of granting them full employment rights. With enforcement left largely to states, outcomes may vary sharply across the country.

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