Calling out exploitative labour dynamics on platforms

In October 2023, women gig workers in India organized a nationwide digital strike, called "Black Diwali," to protest against exploitative labor practices in the gig economy. This movement has highlighted the systemic issues of labor exploitation and the absence of proper labor rights and protections in the gig economy, which has become a growing concern across the globe.

Exploitation in the Gig Economy

• Discounted Offers and Worker Exploitation: Gig workers argue that the festive discounts offered by platform companies come at the expense of their wages, as these platforms push workers to meet unrealistic targets under exploitative conditions.
• Consumer Indifference: Consumers and governments often overlook these realities, focusing instead on the narrative that platform companies create jobs, ignoring the fact that their growth is sustained by exploiting vulnerable labor.
• Venture Capital and Profit Model: The rapid expansion of gig platforms is fueled by venture capitalists, who are more concerned with growth than the sustainability of the business or the well-being of workers, perpetuating a cycle of labor exploitation.

Challenges Faced by Women Gig Workers

• Patriarchal Structures in Gig Work: Women gig workers often face age-old patriarchal norms, being assigned jobs traditionally designated for women, like beauticians or housekeepers, and subjected to exploitative "auto-assigned" jobs.
• Vulnerable Worker Demographics: Many women gig workers are from marginalized backgrounds, such as single mothers or survivors of domestic violence, and their vulnerability is exploited by platform companies that view them as a cheap labor force.
• Hidden Pressures of 'Freedom': While gig platforms promise flexibility and autonomy, women often face pressures to meet unrealistic targets, resulting in financial burdens that prevent them from benefiting from the alleged 'freedom' of gig work.

The Need for Change and Grassroots Organizing

• Lack of State Regulation: The government lacks effective systems to regulate anti-labor practices in the gig economy, allowing platform companies to exploit workers, especially women, without accountability.
• Feminization of Labor: The gig economy perpetuates a form of digital patriarchy, where women are pushed into lower-paying, insecure work with little to no social security or labor rights.
• Grassroots Organizing for Change: GIPSWU’s digital strike is a significant step towards empowering women gig workers, showing the power of grassroots movements in advocating for better labor laws and fairer working conditions.

Practice Question:

Q. The recent digital strike by women gig workers in India has highlighted the exploitative practices within the gig economy. Discuss the challenges faced by gig workers, especially women, and suggest measures to ensure fair labor practices and social security for gig workers in India.