Is Platform Work Decent Work? A Case of Food Delivery Workers in Karnataka

Authors: Kavya Bharadkar, Kaveri Medappa, Mohan Mani, Pradyumna Taduri, Sachin Tiwari

Abstract 

This study is a contribution to the understanding of jobs in platform economy or gig economy. It attempts to examine the earnings of platform workers and explores their experiences on the job in Bengaluru. The study documented below the minimum wage earnings despite long work hours well beyond 8 hours on average per day for most platform workers engaged in various food delivery platforms in Karnataka. When direct operational costs and fixed costs borne by the workers were also factored in, the earnings from this work were found to be paltry. The workers experienced high levels of stress and anxiety compounded with financial precariousness given the uncertainty of earnings. Most workers stayed with one platform at a time. Their everyday experiences revealed the numerous conditionalities imposed on these workers, a large majority of whom depended on food delivery work as their only source of livelihood. The extent of control imposed by platforms and their unilateral decisions regarding work conditions was in stark contrast with the discourse of „flexibility‟ and „entrepreneurship‟ they claimed to engender for their „partners‟, and which had enticed many workers to join this work. The study therefore
refuted the industry claims of platform work being very remunerative, and of workers being free agents, nor linked to any one platform. It raised the possibility of enforcing a unique employer-employee relationship in the sector.
The evidence from the study contributes a contrary view to the current mainstream discourse on platform work, where many policy and media representatives represent platform work being the answer to India’s problem of
job creation. The evidence suggested that quality of platform jobs must be examined closely, and built a case for regulation in the sector. The study therefore also raised questions on the adequacy of regulatory coverage
suggested for platform work in the recently legislated Labour Codes.